Clemente Caimani, president of the T’simane Mosetene Regional Regional Council (CRTM)
Photo © Patrick McMullen
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On September 20th, 2010, the Tsimane-Mosetene Regional Council represented by its president, Mr. Clemente Caimani, was one of the organizations awarded with the Equator Prize 2010, at the Museum of Natural History in New York, for their contribution to land management and conservation of the Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory Pilon Lajas (RBTCO Pilon Lajas).
The Equator Prize is sponsored by the Equatorial Initiative, a partnership that brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society and grassroots organizations. This honor is bestowed annually to 25 communities working towards reducing poverty through the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development.
The RBTCO Pilon Lajas is an example in Bolivia and worldwide, of shared management of a protected area and an indigenous territory by a government agency and an indigenous organization. The National Protected Areas Service (SERNAP) and the Tsimane-Mosetene Regional Council have joint activities aimed at combating illegal logging and poaching, protection of natural and cultural heritage, promotion of scientific research and environmental education as well as promotion of productive initiatives (based on the sustainable use of natural resources) to improve the quality of life in their indigenous communities. The Reserve was created in 1992 for the protection of representative samples of the humid montane forests and the Amazon lowlands, as well as the genetic integrity of plants and animals of the region. In 1997, it was declared as an Indigenous Territory, thereby recognizing the rights of indigenous communities historically settled in the area.
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The CRTM and SERNAP, with the technical support of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), formulated he Management Plan and Life Plan of Pilon Lajas that incorporates proposals from communities and focuses on the integrated management of the area, biodiversity conservation and community development, strengthening their culture and capacities. So far, CRTM efforts have resulted in:
- The consolidation of indigenous property rights of more than 386,000 hectares (about 1,490 square miles, an area larger than Rhode Island).
- The identification of areas for agriculture, hunting, and other sustainable activities.
- Protection of important water basins, the origin of 82 streams and rivers that supply water to more than 8,000 people in the surrounding region.
- Leveraging support for the construction of schools for 14 communities.
- The establishment of sustainable forestry management plan, an association of organic honey producers, and organizations for coffee and cocoa producers.
The President of CRTM, Clemente Caimani, accepted the Equator Prize for CRTM as well as a Special Recognition Prize for Applied Indigenous Knowledge, along with US $5,000 and $15,000 respectively for the honors.
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Clemente Caimani, president of the T´simane Mosetene
Regional Council (CRTM), receiving congratulations from
Gisele Bundchen, Goodwill Ambassador of the United
Nations’ Environmental Program.
Photo © Patrick McMullen
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) extends congratulations to the T´simane Mosetene Regional Council (CRTM) for their efforts favoring conservation and sustainable development in Pilon Lajas, a region of high biological value worldwide.