VOICES ON THE GROUND : MARIA TERESA VARGAS
DEFORESTATION “ GROUND ZERO ” IN THE BOLIVIAN AMAZON PROTECTED
TOP : MARIA TERESA VARGAS , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - FUNDACIÓN NATURA BOLIVIA
A deeply felt memory from childhood of swimming in a clean , free-flowing river brought Maria Teresa Vargas full circle , back to the small village in the forests of Bolivia where she grew up . Today , her work directly impacts water quality for millions of people in South America and helps conserve biodiversity on over 7 million acres of protected tropical forest .
Returning to Bolivia after graduate school , Maria Teresa found the river she loved severely diminished and laden with sediment . This stark reality sparked her lifelong quest to protect rivers , people and species by safeguarding lands upstream .
As Executive Director of Fundación Natura Bolivia , Maria Teresa guides the team in securing “ Reciprocal Watershared Agreements ” that benefit people and natural areas across entire watersheds . Their successful program balances science with on-the-ground tactics to incentivize stakeholders to protect vital water resources . The Watershared model has been implemented in 67 municipalities in Bolivia , and replicated in Colombia , Ecuador , Peru and Mexico .
Rainforest Trust and Fundación Natura Bolivia partnered this year to protect 2 million acres of the Bajo Paraguá forest in the Amazon basin , where rare species like the Crowned Solitary Eagle and Giant Otter are threatened by logging , severe fires and large-scale agriculture . The reserve protects thousands of species and locks up 337 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent .
Our organizations share a commitment to the Indigenous people whose beliefs and forest-based lifestyle make them natural allies of conservation . Working together to help them take back control of their lands and their culture brings great joy to Maria Teresa . And she appreciates that Rainforest Trust doesn ’ t just create “ paper parks ” and walk away — we help local people manage these often huge reserves in a sustainable way .
She is also heartened by young people who have crossed her path in the work , including internet skincare expert Hyram Yarbro , who was a major financial supporter of the project .
“ Young people make things happen faster and channel their use of social media for good . Working with Rainforest Trust and the incredible donors who supported this project gives me hope that our forests will finally be recognized as our greatest asset .”
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