The Río Chilenas and Ciudad Roma municipal protected areas safeguard water sources, unique landscapes, archaeological heritage, and endangered species such as the Andean cat, the condor, and the Chilean flamingo.
A new conservation corridor is taking shape in the southernmost part of Bolivia. The initiative was launched by the communities and local authorities of Río Chilenas and Ciudad Roma, together with the Indigenous, Native, and Peasant Territory of the Lliphi people, who, after learning about PROMETA’s experience and results in nearby areas, requested its technical support to advance the protection of these landscapes.
Through this community-led initiative, and in coordination with the Autonomous Municipal Government of San Antonio de Esmoruco, the municipal protected areas of Río Chilenas and Ciudad Roma–Guadalupe–Río Mojón–El Tholar were established and expanded. Together, these two areas protect approximately 168,488 hectares of wetlands, grasslands, lagoons, Polylepis forests, rock formations, and watershed headwaters in the iconic Lípez mountain range, in the department of Potosí.
This process represents a strategic step forward for the conservation of high Andean ecosystems and demonstrates how community-led initiatives, supported by municipal management and technical assistance from PROMETA, can translate into concrete tools for territorial protection.
The ongoing support provided by PROMETA was made possible thanks to financial support from the Andes Amazon Fund and funding from the Conserva Aves initiative, led by the American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, Birds Canada, BirdLife International, and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC).
A Tri-National Ecological Corridor
The new areas strengthen connectivity among some of the most important natural areas in Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Their location makes it possible to establish an ecological corridor linking the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Wildlife National Reserve in Bolivia; the Los Flamencos National Reserve in Chile; and the Vilama Provincial Reserve in Argentina.
This network of protected areas helps conserve landscapes shared by species that require extensive territories to roam and survive. Among them are the Andean cat, considered critically endangered in Bolivia; the Andean condor, listed as vulnerable; and the Chilean flamingo, classified as near threatened.
These areas are also home to populations of vicuñas, vizcachas, Andean foxes, and Darwin's rheas, as well as a wide variety of birds adapted to the extreme conditions of the Andes.
Chilenas River: Water and Biodiversity on the High Andean Border
The Río Chilenas Municipal Protected Area was established on October 27, 2025, and protects 57,144 hectares of high-Andean ecosystems near the border with Argentina.
Within its boundaries are more than 30 high-altitude lakes and lagoons, wetlands, grasslands, and Polylepis forests. The area also protects the headwaters of the San Juan del Oro–Pilaya–Pilcomayo watershed, whose waters are part of the vast hydrographic system of the Río de la Plata basin.
Its creation will help address threats such as illegal mining, poaching, and habitat degradation, while promoting activities compatible with conservation, such as sustainable camelid grazing and community-based tourism.
Due to its proximity to Laguna Colorada—Bolivia’s first Ramsar site and one of the country’s most renowned natural destinations—Río Chilenas also offers opportunities to integrate conservation with tourist circuits managed for the benefit of local communities.
Rome: Nature, Archaeology, and Exceptional Landscapes
The Ciudad Roma–Guadalupe–Río Mojón–El Tholar Municipal Protected Area was established on December 18, 2025. It initially covered 65,678 hectares, but on July 2, 2026, it was expanded by an additional 45,666 hectares, strengthening the protection of key habitats for threatened birds and other high-Andean species.
Ciudad Roma is characterized by its valleys, rock formations, and geologically unique landscapes. In addition to its natural beauty, it is home to numerous archaeological sites and burial towers known as chullpares, dating from different historical periods.
The municipal protection measures aim to prevent the looting and destruction of these sacred sites, which were previously threatened by extractive activities and interference from outsiders.
Among the priorities for managing the area are the conservation of water sources, the maintenance of ecological connectivity, the protection of archaeological heritage, and the development of community-based tourism rooted in the area’s natural and cultural values.
Conservation Built from the Ground Up
The creation and expansion of these protected areas are the result of a participatory process led by the Autonomous Municipal Government of San Antonio de Esmoruco, the communities and local authorities of Río Chilenas and Ciudad Roma, and the Indigenous, Native, and Peasant Territory of the Lliphi people.
PROMETA provided the technical support needed to ensure the protection of these territories, coordinating environmental and scientific information with community participation and municipal public administration.
This model demonstrates that conservation can serve as a tool to protect water resources, strengthen cultural identity, preserve biodiversity, and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
The establishment and expansion of Río Chilenas and Ciudad Roma mark one of the most significant recent advances in the protection of the high-Andean ecosystems of southern Bolivia and reaffirm PROMETA’s commitment to supporting conservation solutions developed in partnership with communities and local governments.
