Chocaya and Chacapaya Ecosystem Restoration Communities are situated in Bolivia, close to the bustling city of Cochabamba.Chocaya Ecosystem Restoration Community is situated in Bolivia, close to the bustling city of Cochabamba.
Chocaya and Chacapaya are two restoration initiatives located on the mountainside above the village of Chocaya and beneath the hot springs of Liriuni. Part of the magnificent Andes mountain range, the altitude here is about 2,800 meters. The Bolivian Andes are generally very eroded and suffering from the impact of the climate crisis, with water shortages common in the dry season. In a financially poor country, the challenge is to balance ecological values and economic gain. The agroforestry system provides a model for how that balance can be achieved.
Chocaya and Chacapaya are introducing agroforestry to local communities to address degraded land where climate change has further compromised livelihoods. The work mainly with local farmers, and sometimes with whole communities, on soil and water management and tree planting towards restoring the ecosystem and biodiversity, and creating income opportunities for this rural community.
Achievements & Partners
The community at Chocaya are currently building 6 new concrete water reservoirs and 6 water infiltration ‘lakes’ and channels. This will allow the community to harvest about 30.000 litres of water which is much needed to irrigate 200 agroforestry plots in the dry season, provide drinking water at schools, and make the landscape wetter year-round in this harsh terrain.
Chocaya and Chacapaya work in partnership with Samay Foundation, Voserdem and hundreds of families from the village of Chocaya.
Volunteer or donate to Chocaya and Chacapaya, Bolivia
Activities that need your support
Compost making
Water retention
Tree planting
Food growing
Erosion control
Soil building
Cover cropping
Habitat creation
Community building
Fire prevention
Restoration of livelihoods
Educational courses and experiences