Uru Uru Team

The Uru Uru Team is an indigenous women-led group from the Aymara community in Bolivia. It is dedicated to the restoration of ecosystems through a blend of traditional knowledge, community empowerment and scientific innovation.

The team was founded in 2021 to act as a steward of Lake Uru Uru, a vital water source that has faced significant ecological degradation due to pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of resources. The team collaborates closely with local indigenous communities to implement nature-based solutions, particularly through restoration of native aquatic plants, which play a critical role in water purification and maintaining the lake’s ecosystem.

Bolivia’s Andean highlands, where the team operates, presents a challenging physical environment characterised by extreme weather and fluctuating water levels due to climate change. The social context includes a deep connection between indigenous communities and their land, but these communities often face marginalisation and lack access to resources and opportunities. Economically, the region is characterised by poverty, with many families relying on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods, both of which are threatened by the lake’s degradation.

Since inception, it has:

  • Initiated the restoration of the lake’s ecosystem by planting and monitoring native aquatic plants like Totora, which purified water and restored habitats.
  • Partnered with schools to educate youth about environmental stewardship, traditional knowledge, and scientific practices, fostering a new generation of indigenous environmental leaders.
  • Conducted community workshops focused on sustainable agriculture, helping local farmers integrate eco-friendly practices.
  • Community, Ecosystems, Water
  • 2025
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Award
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Photo: Uru Uru Team

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