The Power of Youth: A Victory for the Conservation of the Paúros
In Ascensión de Guarayos, a group of youths led by Rolando Ágreda demonstrated that change is possible when determination and commitment unite in a common cause. That is how MAPEKO was born — a youth group that promoted the coalition “Let’s Conserve Our Paúros”.
Published 4 November 2025
The formation of MAPEKO was a collective effort among youth, public institutions, and environmental organisations to raise awareness about the conservation of water and the Paúros. Thanks to their tireless efforts, today the municipality of Ascensión de Guarayos celebrates the enactment of Municipal Law 02/2025, known as the “Law for the Conservation, Protection and Restoration of Paúros.” This regulation ensures the protection of these valuable sites where water is born.
The Paúros, also known as “ojos de agua” (eyes of water), are natural springs where groundwater flows to the surface, playing a unique ecological role by sustaining river and stream flows, especially during dry periods. For the Guarayo culture (an Indigenous people of Bolivia), these are sacred places known as uamí, where, according to tradition, one must ask permission from the uyar — the water’s guardian spirit — before using them.
In 2022, an intense drought dried up the central lagoon that supplied water to Ascensión de Guarayos, forcing the population to depend on the urban and rural Paúros. It was then that the Coalition “Let’s Conserve Our Paúros” took action. In 2024, with the support of Fundación Hábitat Verde, they participated in the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) call launched by Fundación Socioambiental Semilla, with the support of VCA and WWF-Bolivia. Together, they promoted the recovery of the degraded community, community gardens, and the revival of ancestral knowledge and practices, such as minga (collective work), in an integrated, community-participatory way.
These youths mobilised the community, raised awareness among local authorities, and achieved the unthinkable: a municipal law that guarantees the protection and restoration of the Paúros for future generations. As part of the law, every March 22 has since been celebrated as the “Day of the Paúros” with educational campaigns, restoration activities, and community fairs.
The success of this coalition did not end there. Inspired by their achievements, they applied to the third call for small NbS grants from Fundación Socioambiental Semilla, with the support of VCA and WWF Bolivia, and were awarded funding to create an ecological belt in Ascensión de Guarayos. With great effort and the coalition’s support, this space was eventually recognised through a new municipal law.
On August 29, 2025, the “Yande i Yar” Ecological Park (Our Water Guardian) was officially inaugurated — an area dedicated to environmental preservation and community recreation. The event brought together municipal authorities, neighbours from the Virgen de Cotoca neighbourhood, and local organisations. The initiative was driven by MAPEKO, the youth organisation, which reaffirmed its commitment to protecting wetlands and the area’s ecological belt.
This park represents a significant step in biodiversity conservation and in promoting green spaces for the community, strengthening hope for a sustainable future. Today, the Paúros and the new “Yande i Yar” Ecological Park stand as living proof that organised youth can transform reality. This generation not only protects water but also builds new opportunities for life throughout their territory.
