The Uru Uru Lake Restoration Project is an Indigenous women- and youth-led initiative focused on restoring the heavily contaminated Lake Uru Uru in Bolivia. The project integrates Indigenous ecological knowledge with nature-based and community-driven solutions to address pollution caused by mining runoff, urban waste, and ecosystem degradation. Core interventions include the plantation of native aquatic plants called Totoras for phytoremediation, the installation of floating biofilter rafts made from recycled materials, and community-led monitoring of water and biodiversity recovery. Alongside ecological restoration, the project promotes environmental education, youth leadership, and local livelihoods through workshops, school programs, and community stewardship activities. By centering Indigenous governance, gender equity, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, the project aims to demonstrate that Indigenous-led solutions are not only culturally rooted but also scientifically effective for ecosystem restoration.

Proposed Impact on the Community:
Improved water quality, restored biodiversity, strengthened Indigenous stewardship, increased youth and women leadership, and sustainable local livelihoods linked to ecosystem restoration.

Motivation for Taking On the Project:
The project is driven by the urgent need to protect our Indigenous territory, health, and livelihoods, and by the belief that Indigenous knowledge and youth leadership are essential to achieving lasting environmental justice and climate resilience.