Another winner from the Top 100 – Every year, Green Destinations organizes the Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition, which invites submissions from around the world – a vetted collection of stories spotlighting local and regional destinations that are making progress toward sustainable management of tourism and its impacts. As previously, we’ve selected two more stories from the winners, this one from Bolivia, where an initiative enables indigenous women to share their culture and generate income, fostering a sustainable development model rooted in respect for nature and conservation. Synopsis by Ailin Fei. Top 100 submission by the Sustainable Tourism Council of the Rurrenabaque Destination Madidi Pampas.
Towards Cultural Preservation and Women's Empowerment
The Rurrenabaque Madidi Pampas, in the Bolivian Amazon, spans 80,469 km² and is renowned for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. It encompasses six municipalities, two national protected areas, five subnational protected areas, and three Indigenous Community Territories.
The location faces significant threats, particularly to the Tacana culture, such as deforestation caused by nearby sugar mills, significant challenges due to climate change, and increased social vulnerability. Societal roles limit Tacana women’s access to education, training, and employment, leaving them disadvantaged compared to other groups.
The Indigenous Council of the Tacana People (CIPTA), the Indigenous Council of Tacana Women (CIMTA) and the Sustainable Tourism Council of the Rurrenabaque Madidi Pampas Destination, developed the “Tacana Women’s Route.” This initiative resulted in small businesses operating under the Tacana Brand, created through the indigenous women’s business school, Epuna Cuana Eme (“Woman’s Hands” in Tacana). The project trained 121 women through 15 rural enterprise management workshops and 5 digital marketing workshops using a “learning by doing” methodology. The Tacana Brand now includes five women-led enterprises that feature oils and soaps, handicrafts and jewelry, wild native chocolate paste, banana flour, and traditional weaving.
This initiative enables indigenous women to share their culture and generate income, fostering a sustainable development model rooted in respect for nature and conservation. Though still in its design and pilot phase, there is strong commitment from the women entrepreneurs to integrate local enterprises with sustainable tourism that will allow visitors to engage with nature and actively participate in the Tacana indigenous way of life.
