Protect the Madidi National Park and the Amazonia!

We must avoid that the Bolivian Government implement projects that destroy the Madidi National Park and other protected areas, and we request that they implemented instead cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind power plants.

According to Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Madidi is the place of the greatest biodiversity in the world as it is the refuge of more than 1,100 species of birds, 200 species of mammals, 300 types of fish and 12,000 species of plants. This park is a major tourist attraction for Bolivia, and is also part of one of the most important protected areas in the world, the Amazon.

Currently, the Madidi National Park (like other 17 protected areas in Bolivia) is threatened with the development of various government projects, which include two hydroelectric power plants, the construction of a road that split the park in two, deforestation, and the exploitation of mineral and hydrocarbon resources. Despite the environmental, social and economic expected impacts; the government of Evo Morales is modifying and violating various environmental Laws to ensure that the Bolivian environmental agency approved the implementation of these and other 29 projects in 17 other protected areas. The expected impacts are:

Flood more than 90,000 hectares due to construction of dams.

Loss of flora and fauna, and the felling of thousands of trees over 300 years old.

Water pollution: water eutrophication because of the hydrological alteration.

Air pollution: emission of tons of carbon dioxide and methane due to plant decomposition.

Unconscionable income of loggers, poachers and settlers due to road construction.

Socially: peoples and communities lose their home place and should emigrate.

Economically: the planned sale of energy will not compensate the investment of $ 6000 million for the construction of the dam; in fact, this will increase the country's foreign debt even more.

While hydroelectric plants promise to turn Bolivia into the largest energy center of South America, the government could invest $ 6,000 million in cleaner alternative energy. In fact, recent studies indicate that the Bolivian highlands have the highest rates of radiation in the world and therefore a complex of solar panels in this area would produce enough energy to meet the total energy demand in Germany. Similarly, altitude, weather conditions and strong winds of the Bolivian Andes, make this region a strong wind potential, capable of generating 100 MW in just five years.

Let us not allow the Madidi National Park and other protected areas disappear, please sign this petition and share with whom you can to prevent this tragedy.

SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION