Leaders of the Yuracaré-Mojeño Amazonian indigenous community claimed the right to 100,000 hectares of land
during the March 19-23 Land is Life conference organized by the International
Land Coalition in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The land is located along the Ichilo River
in the Yapacaní municipality. A large portion of the land has been granted
in concessions to logging, oil, and mining companies. Representatives from international
organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Commission
were present at the conference, along with more than 80 delegates from various
nonprofits, indigenous groups, and unions. The International Land Coalition plans
to monitor the proposals and demands that emerged from the conference. The coalition
has the support of the United Nations and works by strengthening networks and
building connections for collective action. Leaders of the Yuracaré-Mojeño
view the Bolivian constitutional assembly, set to begin in August, as the next
major venue to promote their fight to gain rights to the land.
