More than 1,500 producers benefitted in Uyuni

The construction of the new highway that connects Uyuni with the departmental capital of Potosi improves communications with national and international markets, and benefits more than 1,500 inhabitants of Agua de Castilla, Porco, Chaquilla, Pelca, Tica Tica, Ollerias and Pulacayo, among other neighboring populations dedicated to the production of royal quinoa, camelid raising, mining, and tourism. 

Promoting integration infrastructure, sustainable development with economic and social inclusion, and executing actions for the preservation of the environment, are part of the objectives of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, to consolidate its role as Bolivia's partner that goes beyond the provision of financing. 

In the case of the Potosi-Uyuni highway, social and environmental projects were executed aimed at improving the productive capacities of the neighboring communities, and the conservation of the area's ecosystem. These projects were executed by the Administradora Boliviana de Carreteras(ABC) (Bolivian Highway Administration). 

In addition, and considering the culture of llama raising, the two main modules of the "Centro de capacitación y transformación del museo de la Llama y de las praderas andina" (Training and transformation center of the Llama museum and of the Andean prairies) were built, aimed at training people in the community, children, and tourists who visit the area, regarding the good management of the prairie and camelid raising. Among future prospects, offering gastronomical services is being considered, based on camelid meat and Andean infusions, as well as a place to sell camelid derivative products.   

In the presence of an increasing desertification, which is one of the main environmental problems in Bolivia affecting the ecosystems, the conservation of high altitude wetlands was promoted. The Chaquilla wetland, one of the main high altitude wetlands in the country and the largest in the Department of Potosi, is found in this area. 

At the same time, a program was established "Modelo de restauración, manejo y conservación de humedales" (Restoration, management, and conservation of high altitude wetlands) (bofedales), due to the impact of the highway on the area's wetlands. In this case, the necessary technical measures were implemented for the restoration of thirty hectares of eroded high altitude wetlands in the community of Chaquilla, jointly with model practices to protect the prairies for the area's inhabitants. 

Another project which is complementary to the highway, is the "Management model for solid residues", aimed at the development of tourism activities and improvement of the environmental quality in the points of entry to Uyuni.