Bolivia Indigenous Win Land Rights After 20-Year Fight, But Face Threats

After two decades of legal battles, Bolivia’s Tacana II Indigenous people have secured official title to their ancestral homeland—a victory that comes with ongoing challenges. The 272,379-hectare territory in La Paz province serves as crucial habitat for over 50 vulnerable species, including jaguars, and acts as a transit zone for uncontacted Indigenous groups.

The land title grants the Tacana II communities full legal ownership of their territory, which sits strategically between Madidi National Park and the Bajo Madidi Municipal Conservation Area. This biodiverse region functions as a vital biological corridor, protecting endangered wildlife while supporting four Indigenous communities: Puerto Pérez, Las Mercedes, Toromonas, and El Tigre.

However, Indigenous leaders warn that legal recognition alone won’t guarantee protection. “The title is legal security of collective ownership,” explained Roland Mejía, president of the Tacana II Indigenous Communities Center. “But the title alone will not defend the territory; it must be defended by community leaders’ actions.”

The communities face persistent threats from illegal invaders, weak environmental law enforcement, and political instability at the state level. Despite their hard-won legal victory, the Tacana II people must continue actively defending their land to preserve both their cultural heritage and one of Bolivia’s most biodiverse regions. Their struggle highlights the ongoing challenges Indigenous communities face worldwide in protecting ancestral territories that serve as critical conservation areas for threatened ecosystems and wildlife.