The native plant cleaning up a polluted Bolivian lake

By Dayana Blanco Quiroga, 2024 Wetland Restoration Steward

In Bolivia, Indigenous communities are allying with nature to overcome the brunt effects of climate change, plastic waste and polluting industries.

In the bottomlands of Bolivia, these negative impacts are increasingly felt around Uru Uru Lake – recognized as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance.

Located on the Bolivian Altiplano at an altitude of 3,686 meters, Uru Uru Lake hosts more than six Indigenous communities, 76 species of birds and unique flamingo species such as the Chilean, Andean and James’s flamingos.

Sadly, nowadays, the reality is different. Acid waters discharged by mining companies into Uru Uru Lake are killing and displacing wildlife and affecting the livelihoods of Indigenous communities that depend on the waters of the lake.  

Activities such as fishing, agriculture, or raising cattle are no longer an option for Indigenous communities as the water and surrounding land have become toxic with heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium and zinc.

In the Indigenous community of Vito, local community members are planting native totora reeds to help clean their sacred lake. 

Using traditional knowledge for restoration

Vito is one of the communities in Uru Uru affected by nearby mining activities, plastic pollution and the adverse effects of climate change.

Its people are using their traditional knowledge to restore Uru Uru Lake by harnessing the power of nature.

Totoras are native aquatic plants found on the Bolivian Altiplano. They are durable reeds that can withstand high UV levels and temperature fluctuations.

The community has traditionally used totoras as raw materials to build floating houses and boats. These plants also significantly bolstered the Indigenous economy by offering a key source of fodder for livestock, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices. 

Today, totoras are restoring Uru Uru Lake through a process of phytoremediation, meaning they uptake heavy pollutants from the water that are killing Uru Uru Lake.

Totoras are a beacon of hope for the community and play a pivotal role in the restoration of the contaminated waters of Uru Uru Lake as they serve as natural decontaminators. 

Over 3,000 totoras have now been placed on floating rafts on the polluted waters of the lake, reducing odors and heavy minerals by 30 percent. The community’s goal is to restore the entire 21-kilometer span of Uru Uru Lake using totoras.  

Indigenous women have also begun crafting and selling handicrafts made of totoras at various fairs, creating a crucial source of income for survival amidst the ongoing climate crisis. 

The initial planting of 600 totoras into the polluted waters of Uru Uru Lake has been successful and is already yielding positive results after just three months. The totoras have taken root and adapted to the harsh environmental conditions, growing green leaves and symbolizing the community’s resilience. 

Local voices call out for change

Jhony, a 16-year-old Indigenous boy, enjoys playing around Uru Uru Lake but struggles to stay near it because after a couple of hours, he feels dizzy and gets stomach aches.

Although his mother has forbidden him from playing near the lake, he finds it hard to stay indoors when he can hear the chirping of small groups of flamingos outside.

Instead, Jhony persuades his mother to let him play near the totoras at the water’s edge, as he finds the odor there more bearable compared to other areas around the lake.  

Jhony also notices that the flamingos prefer to stay near the totoras too. Are they mimicking him, or do they too understand that the totoras can heal the land and water? 

Rufino, a 75-year-old member of the community, remembers how they used to fish in the pristine waters of Uru Uru Lake and how they built floating houses and boats with the totoras.

He says that today, our sons and daughters can no longer fish or see the true blue color of Uru Uru. Now, the waters are oily and black. 

“Sadly, we are at risk of disappearing as a community because we are struggling to survive amidst this crisis caused by mining, plastic companies and the effects of the climate crisis,” says Rufino.

He says the totoras are helping control the odors and slowly restore the landscape to how the community once knew it, with beautiful birds circling overhead.

“I am concerned for my health and the health of our sisters and brothers who are working hard to introduce totoras into the polluted waters,” Rufino adds.

“It is not enough to wear a mask because the odors affect your head and stomach. But if we don’t act, who else will help us restore Uru Uru Lake?”

Now, people at least believe in the powerful work that totoras are doing, which is why we always say we need to seek eco-friendly solutions. Mother Earth feels more comfortable when you heal her with natural medicines.

Looking ahead to a greener future

It is of paramount importance to highlight Earth-friendly solutions. Our Indigenous communities lack economic resources but possess the energy and determination to find ways to mitigate the severe consequences of pollution in Uru Uru Lake.

However, we have consistently heard from politicians and authorities that time, and most importantly, money is needed to effectively implement solutions.

The government of Oruro Department has proposed installing a treatment plant costing USD 5 million – a sum far beyond the budget of Vito’s people.

Instead, they’re still waiting for funding from the central government, which has given little priority to the restoration of Uru Uru Lake.

I, Dayana Blanco Quiroga, and our entire Vito community feel blessed to carry forward and preserve the traditional knowledge passed down by our ancestors. This knowledge is crucial for  implementing Earth-friendly solutions using resources available in nature. 

We believe that protecting nature demands action, not just words, and that financial constraints should not be an excuse for failing to restore or heal the environment. 

While financial resources can help scale and accelerate restoration efforts, they are not the only solution. The totoras serve as a clear example of how nature can respond positively to solutions derived from itself.  

Just as Uru Uru Lake benefits from this approach, other areas on the Altiplano can find hope in the example set by the people of Vito.

I hope our success can inspire other communities to adopt similar methods and plant totoras to save lakes that support diverse ecosystems and biodiversity.