This Mongabay article discusses how the new interim government in Bolivia has reversed some of the Morales administration’s decisions, however conservationists caution there is more left to do.
“It has been disastrous, something described as biocide and ethnocide,” said Ruth Alipaz, indigenous leader of the National Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples for the Defense of Territories and Protected Areas (CONTIOCAP). “Fundamental resources such as river waters have been contaminated and fish are dying.”
“The Minister of Public Works [Yerko Núñez] said that the Chepete-El Bala hydroelectric dam was unviable, but there are ministers and civil servants pushing to continue Morales’ projects,” said Ruth Alipaz of CONTIOCAP. Alipaz denounces the risks of extractive activities in indigenous territories. She says that indigenous communities have declared an emergency and requested an audience with the interim president. “We make up 42 percent of the population and are the most affected by extractive policies,” Alipaz said….”
““One of the main causes of contamination in Bolivia is gold mining,” said Pablo Villegas, also of CEDIB. “So far, no mining registry has existed and the government has not applied the Minamata Convention, a global treaty that seeks to protect health and the environment from mercury emissions.” According to Villegas, the government is granting authorizations to mining entities, which allows them to mine legally in indigenous territories and protected areas. “The issue lies with the Mining Law, which gives authorization to companies that do not have a legally registered status,” Villegas said.”