Last updated: October 2024
This initiative was launched by the local government of La Paz, focusing on afforestation of the Mallasa landfill, which was closed in 2004 (1-4 & 6-10). While some plantations were established in the area when the landfill was closed, the overall plan aimed to manage the waste until the site was sufficiently clean for new projects—a process expected to take at least a decade (6). By 2021, signs of biodiversity, including flora and fauna, had begun to return to the former landfill. In response, the municipality of La Paz implemented a project to plant 6,000 native tree species, along with other shrub species, to further enhance biodiversity regeneration and establish a second urban forest in the city (3 & 4 & 7 & 8). The afforestation efforts took place between 2021 and 2022, coordinated through "forestry brigades" made up of diverse volunteer groups. These groups included members from public institutions, private company representatives, NGOs (both environmental and non-environmental), universities, religious organizations, and local citizen groups (8-10). A total of 12 hectares were reforested out of the 33-hectare area (1 & 7). Following this, the area was closed to the public and is expected to become a biodiversity sanctuary within ten years, with ongoing monitoring by the municipal environmental agency (7). Among the trees planted, some were chosen to attract birds with their fruit, others to support the pollination of hummingbirds and bees, while others were intended to enrich the soil with nutrients—all species being native to the region (3 & 7). Additional goals of the initiative include raising awareness about climate change, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship through community engagement, and advancing the municipality's decarbonization plans (3 & 9). Some of the seedlings and saplings were purchased by the municipality at a cost of 6,160 euros, with private companies also contributing financial support to the initiative (1 & 7).
La Paz landfill
https://capitalsafi.com/we-participated-in-the-mallasa-ex-landfill-reforestation-program/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Soil quality improvement
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Soil degradation and loss
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of large parks and urban and peri-urban forests, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Creating nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, or biodiversity hotspots to conserve unique ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Landfill reclamation, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Citizen science and monitoring initiatives (e.g. species observations, habitat assessments, and data collection efforts)
Project objectives
To create a new protected forest that acts as a sanctuary for biodiversity and as a "green lung" for the citizens of La Paz (1 - 4 & 6 -10).
To achieve the ecological regeneration of a landfill degraded by waste disposal, thereby improving the physical health of the surrounding inhabitants and creating opportunities for interaction (1 - 4 & 6 -10).
To raise awareness on issues related to climate change and instill care for nature by involving local institutions, organizations, and citizens in the plantation activities (3).
To advance municipal targets for decarbonization in the city of La Paz (9).
To attract wildlife to the newly created habitat and enhance biodiversity in the area, helping to recover the environmental services degraded by the landfill (3 & 7).
To improve the aesthetic image of the city through green landscaping (1 - 3).
To monitor the existing and emerging biodiversity in the area through citizen-driven monitoring efforts (5).
Implementation activities
The initiative involved the plantation of 6,000 native trees along with other shrubs, totaling approximately 2,500 plants, across 12 hectares of the 33-hectare area that makes up the former Mallasa landfill (1-4 & 6-10). The plantation activities were carried out over two years through "forestry brigades," which brought together a wide range of participants, including local institutions, representatives from private companies, NGOs (both environmental and non-environmental), universities, religious organizations, and citizen groups (8).
Key species planted included molles, which provide red fleshy fruits to attract birds; golden showers, offering nectar to native bees and hummingbirds as well as seeds through their fruits; and jarcas, which produce enough leaf litter to enrich the soil with nutrients, thereby attracting wildlife to the area (7).
To ensure the trees reach maturity and the area becomes a thriving forest, monitoring and appropriate maintenance have been crucial. This has included conducting technical studies to determine the best planting locations and the most suitable species for the terrain, as well as carrying out the plantations during rainy periods to guarantee water availability (3, 7, 8). Additionally, the pools previously used for waste management have been repurposed into water retention containers for irrigation purposes (3).
Citizens have independently contributed by monitoring the site and conducting an inventory of the species present (5).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Restore degraded forests thorough reforestation or ecological restoration to increase carbon storage in degraded forests (e.g. result of logging or fires)
- Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The local government of la Paz started the plantation, acquiring the first saplings and seeds through its subsidiary public company of green areas and parks EMAVERDE, and asked for engagement to different organisations that provided voluntary work for the plantation, such as public institutions, representatives of private companies, NGOs (non-environmental and environmental), universities, religious organisations and groups of citizens (8 - 10). The most notable was the 2000 volunteers from the religious organisation "Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días" (9). The municipal department for environmental management monitors the area and the trees and coordinated the groups of volunteers for the plantation (8). There were some unspecified green funds from private companies, in addition to their support through voluntary work (1). Citizens have independently contributed by monitoring the site and conducting an inventory of the species present (5).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
("La Paz en Paz y moderna 2021-2026", more concretly, "La Paz moderna y verde" (9). - "Green and Modern Paz")
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Less than €10,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Improved waste management
- Expected improved waste management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Achieved increase in protected green space areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Expected increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Expected improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Expected improved physical health
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
El Diario (2021). Empieza forestación del exrelleno de Mallasa - El Diario - Bolivia. Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Ledezma, V. (2021). Día Nacional del Árbol_ alcaldía paceña inaugura forestación en ex-relleno sanitario de Mallasa – ANA Bolivia. Agencia de Noticias Ambientales , Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Los Tiempos (2021). Un relleno sanitario en pos de convertirse un santuario de árboles en Bolivia _ Los Tiempos. Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2023). Exrelleno sanitario de Mallasa va camino a convertirse en el pulmón de La Paz con siembra de más de 4 mil árboles . Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
5.
INaturalista (2021). Inaturalista_restauracion ex relleno mallasa. Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Agencia de Noticias Fides Bolivia (2004). El Gobierno Municipal de La Paz realizó este sábado el cierre definitivo del rel . Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2021). 33 ha de basura en Mallasa se transformarán en el nuevo pulmón ecológico de La Paz _ Agencia Municipal de Noticias. Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2021). Forestación del exrelleno de Mallasa empieza el viernes con 4.000 plantines hasta fin de año . Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2022). Voluntarios y personal municipal plantan 2.000 arbolitos en exrelleno sanitario de Mallasa . Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2021). Arias planta una keñua, arbolito 20 mil en exrelleno sanitario de Mallasa y anuncia llegar a cien mil . Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Secretaría Municipal de Planificación (2018). Cartillas Macrodistritales - Mallasa. Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de La Paz, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Bolivia (2012). Ficha_Comunidades_La Paz. Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Peñaranda, A. (2024). La Alcaldía identifica múltiples avasallamientos en Mallasa. La Razón , Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
Photo of the area to be restored
https://anabolivia.org/dia-nacional-del-arbol-alcaldia-pacena-inaugura-forestacion-en-ex-relleno-sanitario-de-mallasa/
Panoramic view of trees planted in the area
https://amun.bo/exrelleno-sanitario-de-mallasa-va-camino-a-convertirse-en-el-pulmon-de-la-paz-con-siembra-de-mas-de-4-mil-arboles/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.