Programme

The Indigenous Reserve of Ñembi Guasu (meaning ‘the great hideout’ in Guaraní language) covers 1.2 million hectares of largely intact Chaco dry forest. The area is home to the Guaraní population as well as the isolated Ayoreo indigenous community. The creation of the reserve is based on the Guarani worldview: ‘Yaiko Kavi Pave’, meaning ‘To live well’). The Guarani have a culture that considers nature

The Indigenous Reserve of Ñembi Guasu (meaning ‘the great hideout’ in Guaraní language) covers 1.2 million hectares of largely intact Chaco dry forest. The area is home to the Guaraní population as well as the isolated Ayoreo indigenous community. The creation of the reserve is based on the Guarani worldview: ‘Yaiko Kavi Pave’, meaning ‘To live well’). The Guarani have a culture that considers nature essential to their survival. The area connects two large National Protected Areas (Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco and Otuquis) and is home to several species such as the chaco peccary, jaguar, giant armadillo, puma, chaco titi monkey, black howler monkey, tapir and giant anteater. Since its establishment in 2019, Ñembi Guasu has been administered by the Autonomous Indigenous Government of Charagua Iyambae. It is the first protected area that was created by an Autonomous Indigenous government in Bolivia.

In 2024 the Charagua government declared another new indigenous reserve called Yande Yari (562.000 ha.). Yande Yari is home to part of the Banados de Isoso Ramsar wetlands and the Parapeti river and directly borders Kaa Iya national park on the west thereby forming one large block of protected areas.

Urgent themes are avoiding deforestation by cattle ranching, agriculture and by massive wildfires (which destroyed more than 150,000 hectares in 2019 and 2021). It is important to ensure assisted natural regeneration where necessary. Illegal land occupation, lack of sustainable land use planning, road development and desiccation of the wetlands are other serious risks to the long-term survival of these unique areas.

The indigenous government of Charagua Iyambae is in dire need of funding, knowledge and management skills to ensure the long-term survival of their reserves. The programme supports them with setting-up and strengthening the management of both reserves and to increase the national visibility and support for Ñembi Guasu and Yande Yari.