Bolivian Amazon municipalities ban mining to protect organic farming

Five municipalities in the Bolivian Amazon, including Palos Blancos and Alto Beni, declared their territories free of mining activity to prevent the contamination of local rivers and soil.

These communities prioritized their role as agroecological producers, seeking to protect crops such as organic cacao, citrus, bananas, and rice. Two of these municipalities successfully moved their local laws through the Chamber of Deputies and currently await Senate approval for national recognition.

Local leaders, such as Palos Blancos mayor Jesús Chucamani, state that the move protects the certification of their organic products. Chucamani noted that before 2017, companies and cooperatives exploited gold in the Alto Beni River, which measures 187 kilometers in length. The current local laws prohibit all mining practices and the granting of mining rights within these jurisdictions. The legislation also tasks the Executive Branch and municipal governments with ensuring these protections remain in place to support food sovereignty.

The national government under Rodrigo Paz opposes these local decisions, with the Minister of Mining and Metallurgy, Marco Antonio Calderón, claiming that such autonomous declarations are illegal because mining falls under central state jurisdiction. However, legal experts and researchers from Fundación Solón argue that these actions are constitutionally supported. They point to a court ruling that allows Alto Beni to legislate on environmental protection and territorial planning.

The experts suggest that while the state manages mineral resources, it must do so while respecting fundamental rights and environmental protections.