​Restoration Led by Indigenous Youth and Women at Lake Uru Uru

The Uru Uru Team is an Indigenous youth and women-led collective dedicated to restoring the living waters of Lake Uru Uru in Bolivia through community-driven, culturally grounded environmental action. Rooted in Indigenous science and ancestral knowledge, the project centers the leadership of local communities in healing ecosystems that have been deeply impacted by pollution and environmental degradation.

At the heart of this work is the restoration and protection of native totora plants, which play a vital role in filtering water, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining the ecological balance of the lake. Through the cultivation of these plants, alongside coordinated community cleanups, the initiative is actively transforming a landscape once marked by contamination into a space of ecological renewal and regeneration.

The project also emphasizes environmental education grounded in ancestral knowledge, creating opportunities for intergenerational learning and strengthening connections between youth, elders, and the land. By engaging young people—especially girls and young women—in hands-on restoration efforts, the initiative nurtures future leaders while reaffirming the importance of Indigenous stewardship practices.

Beyond ecological recovery, this work is deeply tied to cultural revitalization and community resilience. The restoration of Lake Uru Uru is not only about repairing an ecosystem, but also about reclaiming relationships with water, land, and identity. Indigenous leadership guides every aspect of the project, ensuring that solutions remain locally rooted, culturally respectful, and sustainable over the long term.
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Through this approach, the Uru Uru Team demonstrates how Indigenous science offers holistic, community-based solutions to environmental challenges—restoring ecosystems while strengthening dignity, sovereignty, and the ongoing defense of Indigenous territories.