Sustainable Bolivia

Sustainable Bolivia (SB) is a 501(c)(3) international non-profit organization founded in 2007 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, with a vision to support local Bolivian organizations through the allocation of human and financial resources. Its work centers on conservation and sustainable development initiatives in the Bolivian Amazon, particularly within the Aquicuana Reserve, an area of high biodiversity located about 20 kilometers from the city of Riberalta in the Beni Department. SB's flagship achievement is its role in establishing the Aquicuana Reserve. In 2016, working in collaboration with the municipality of Riberalta and the communities of Warnes and San Jose, SB helped secure protection for more than 20,000 hectares of rainforest. Inside the reserve, SB initiates and oversees projects focused on conservation, biological and ecological research, sustainable community-based ecotourism, and environmental education. The organization also runs the Motacu Research Station, which serves as a homebase for researchers studying the reserve's flora and fauna. In the nearby city of Riberalta, SB supports local organizations through volunteer and internship placements and micro-grant funding. It is affiliated with the local university, UAB-JB (La Universidad Autónoma del Beni "José Ballivián"), and helps international and local researchers form connections. SB also partners with research facilities such as CIRA and CIBIOMA. Its volunteer programs span ecological and biological research, education and youth development, environmental education, conservation, healthcare, community-driven work, eco-tourism, and art, with placements matched to individual skills and local needs. A notable SB initiative is the "Guardians of the Amazon" project, an ecological and environmental club created at the start of 2018 at the Warnes School, located at the entrance of the Aquicuana Reserve. The club involves 70 primary and secondary school children and aims to raise local environmental awareness through social communication campaigns and practical activities. Since 2018, SB has also conducted biodiversity research in the reserve with the help of international experts, identifying more than 300 bird species, including the rare endemic Masked Antpitta (Hylopezus auricularis), classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. SB suspended its volunteer projects for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and re-opened them in June 2022. Today, most of its work is focused inside the reserve, while it continues to support local organizations in Riberalta through volunteer and internship placements. As a non-profit with limited public or private funding, SB relies on donations and volunteer contributions to sustain its operations.

Sustainable Bolivia (SB) was founded in 2007 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, as a 501(c)(3) international non-profit organization. Its founding vision was to support local Bolivian organizations by allocating human and financial resources to them. In its early years, SB operated primarily as a volunteer-placement and micro-grant organization based in Cochabamba, connecting international volunteers with local organizations. A major turning point came in 2016, when SB, in collaboration with the municipality of Riberalta and the communities of Warnes and San Jose, helped secure protection for more than 20,000 hectares of rainforest, establishing the Aquicuana Reserve in the Beni Department of the Bolivian Amazon, about 20 kilometers from Riberalta. Following the reserve's establishment, SB shifted much of its focus there, initiating and overseeing projects in conservation, biological and ecological research, sustainable community-based ecotourism, and environmental education. At the start of 2018, SB created the "Guardians of the Amazon" project, an ecological and environmental club at the Warnes School, located at the entrance of the Aquicuana Reserve. The club, made up of 70 primary and secondary school children, aims to raise environmental awareness locally through social communication campaigns and practical activities. Also beginning in 2018, SB began conducting biodiversity research in the reserve with the help of international biodiversity and biology experts who volunteered to study the reserve's flora and fauna. This work identified more than 300 bird species in the reserve, including the rare endemic Masked Antpitta (Hylopezus auricularis), classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. SB established the Motacu Research Station inside the reserve as a homebase for researchers, offering easy access to the surrounding reserve. The organization also developed affiliations with local research and academic institutions, including La Universidad Autónoma del Beni "José Ballivián" (UAB-JB), CIRA, and CIBIOMA, encouraging researchers to form partnerships with these organizations. In 2020, SB's volunteer projects were suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were re-opened in June 2022. After reopening, most of SB's work became focused inside the Aquicuana Reserve, while it continued to support local organizations in Riberalta through volunteer and internship placements in areas such as education and environment. SB also arranges visiting artists and research opportunities for international students and professionals in both Riberalta and the Aquicuana Reserve. As a non-profit with limited public or private funding, SB relies on donations and volunteer contributions.

• 2022

  Re-opened volunteer projects in June 2022 following the pandemic suspension.

• 2020

  Volunteer projects suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2018

  Created the "Guardians of the Amazon" ecological club at the Warnes School and began biodiversity research in the Aquicuana Reserve.

• 2016

  Helped secure protection for more than 20,000 hectares of rainforest, establishing the Aquicuana Reserve in collaboration with the municipality of Riberalta and the communities of Warnes and San Jose.

• 2007

  Sustainable Bolivia founded in Cochabamba, Bolivia as a 501(c)(3) international non-profit organization.

A grassroots non-profit bridging international volunteers and researchers with local Bolivian conservation and development initiatives in the Amazon.

• Volunteer placements

  Placements in ecological and biological research, education and youth development, environmental education, conservation, healthcare, community-driven work, eco-tourism, and art.

• Internship placements

  Internship opportunities with local organizations in Riberalta in areas such as education and environment.

• Independent research support

  Support for researchers studying the biodiversity of the Aquicuana Reserve, with the Motacu Research Station as a homebase.

• Community-based ecotourism

  Expeditions in the Aquicuana Reserve including guided nature hikes, bird-watching, canoe rides, and fishing.

• Environmental education programs

  Programs such as the "Guardians of the Amazon" ecological club for local children.

• Micro-grants and scholarships

  Micro-grant funding and local scholarships for partner organizations and community members.

1. 1Sustainable Bolivia: Volunteer at the Bolivian Amazonsustainablebolivia.org
2. 2About us | Sustainable Boliviasustainablebolivia.org
3. 3Volunteer & internship in Bolivia | Sustainable Boliviasustainablebolivia.org
4. 4Environmental Education and Research - Sustainable Boliviasustainablebolivia.org
5. 5Sustainable Bolivia - Wikidatawikidata.org