Last updated: October 2024
The initiative consists of an afforestation campaign promoted by the local government of La Paz, with the objective of planting 10,000 trees and shrubs (1 & 2). Carried out between 2023 and 2024, the campaign included plantations across all the macrodistricts of La Paz (1). To ensure the campaign's success, the municipality encouraged the participation of volunteers from various institutions, such as public services, environmental groups, schools and universities, neighborhood associations, church groups, and even Army and Navy units (1 & 2). The trees play specific roles in mitigating climate change, improving air quality, reducing odors from nearby landfills, and decreasing the risk of landslides and soil erosion (3 & 4). Furthermore, the campaign aims to foster environmental awareness among citizens and replace trees lost due to illegal deforestation (1). The species selected for planting were provided by EMAVERDE, the public company responsible for managing green spaces in the city. The selection included primarily native species, along with a few introduced ones, all chosen for their resilience to La Paz's varying climate conditions (1, 2 & 4). Given the challenging climate and difficult soil conditions, the municipality informed volunteers about the importance of maintaining the saplings, particularly during drought periods, to ensure their proper growth (1 & 2). The campaign also supported the municipality’s urban development plan (Plan Territorial de Desarrollo Integral "Para Vivir Bien") and the "Plan Integral de Recuperación de la Tormenta a la Esperanza," the latter developed in response to extreme rain events and floods that occurred during the campaign months (5).
Volunteers planting saplings
https://amun.bo/en-la-paz-plantan-al-menos-7-000-arbustos-en-campana-de-forestacion/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Landslides & mudslides
- Environmental Degradation
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Soil degradation and loss
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Disconnection from nature
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Landfill reclamation, Transformation of vacant land into green spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
To encourage environmental awareness and change the mentality of different generations regarding the care of the biosphere (1).
To reforest areas affected by deforestation, particularly due to illegal logging (1 & 2).
To engage various institutions, community organizations, associations, schools, universities and citizens in the afforestation campaign (1 & 2).
To mitigate the risk of landslides caused by heavy rains, flash floods and deforestations and prevent soil loss as type of soil in the city is clayey predisposed to shrinking and swelling (4, 5).
To prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change, including carbon sequestration (3, 5).
To reduce odors from landfills through strategic tree planting and restore air quality (4).
Implementation activities
The initiative involves the plantation of 10,000 tree saplings and shrub species across various areas of the city, focusing on locations where growth can be most easily achieved (1 to 4). Specifically, 1,500 trees were planted near a working landfill, while 300 trees were planted next to a closed landfill (3 & 4). A total of 500 volunteers from 50 different institutions contributed to the planting efforts (2 & 3). Schools from primary to secondary, environmental groups, Army and Navy units and neighborhood associations have been involved. These volunteers are also expected to provide ongoing maintenance for the newly planted saplings, ensuring their healthy growth and sustainability by applying periodic irrigation in case of lack of rain in the area (2 & 3).
To prepare for this ambitious planting initiative, a nursery was established to cultivate saplings until they are ready for planting. The species selected include both native and introduced varieties that are resilient to local climate conditions. In all macro-districts volunteers planted native species such as Mutu mutu, Acacia Albicia, Acacia floribunda, Privet tree, Eucalyptus guni, Ornamental plane tree, Eucalyptus baby blue, Dodonea purple that are resistant to the variable climate of the city. (1 & 2).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
- Restore and protect forests for soil stabilisation and prevention of landslides
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
- 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
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The municipality of La Paz started the campaign, provided the land and the saplings through their public institutions and also members of the City Hall volunteered to carry out the work (1- 4). Up to 50 institutions signed up to help with the plantation actions, with and approximate of 500 volunteers from these groups participating in them (1). They comprised public services, environmental groups, schools and universities, neighborhood associations, church groups and even Army and Navy units, and others (1 - 3). Volunteers were also encouraged to maintain the plants to ensure their growth (2 & 3). The local government of La Paz has financed itself for this plantation action and similar through their own budget but also private banks (5, p. 108).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Plan Territorial de Desarrollo Integral “Para Vivir Bien” del Municipio de La Paz 2021-2025 / Plan Integral de Recuperación de la Tormenta a la Esperanza (5). - Comprehensive Territorial Development Plan “To Live Well” of the Municipality of La Paz 2021-2025 / Comprehensive Recovery Plan from the Storm to Hope (5).)
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Commercial banks
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Loan
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
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Improved resilience against landslides
- Expected improved resilience against landslides
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
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
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Expected increased appreciation for natural spaces
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
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.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2024). En La Paz plantan al menos 7.000 arbustos en campaña de forestación. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de la Paz (2023). Empieza campaña de forestación “Un paceño, un árbol” para plantar 10 mil nuevos arbolitos en La Paz . Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Agencia Municipal de Noticias La Paz (2023). Campaña “Un paceño, un árbol”_ más de 300 plantines, arbustos y arbóreas son plantados en Mallasa . Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Opinión (2024). La Paz_ Forestan exrelleno sanitario de Alpacoma con 1.500 plantines. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Gobierno Autónomo Municial de La Paz (2024). PLAN INTEGRAL DE RECUPERACION DE LA TORMENTA A LA ESPERANZA. p. 91 & 108. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Bolivia (2024). Censo población 2024. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Secretaría Municipal de Planificación (2018 ). Cartillas Macrodistritales - Tablas Dinámicas. Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de La Paz, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Instituo Nacional de Estadística (2012 ). Ficha_Comunidades_La Paz. Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
La Paz planting
https://amun.bo/un-paceno-un-arbol-foresta-tu-barrio-y-unete-a-esta-iniciativa/
La Paz planting
https://amun.bo/un-paceno-un-arbol-foresta-tu-barrio-y-unete-a-esta-iniciativa/
Volunteers planting saplings
https://amun.bo/campana-un-paceno-un-arbol-mas-de-300-plantines-arbustos-y-arboreas-son-plantados-en-mallasa/
La Paz planting
https://amun.bo/un-paceno-un-arbol-foresta-tu-barrio-y-unete-a-esta-iniciativa/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.