President Evo Morales: Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory is not a pristine wilderness

PRESIDENTIAL STUBBORNNESS • President Evo Morales said Thursday that Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS for Spanish) is not a pristine wilderness and in United States and European countries there are roads built in the middle of nature reserves.

By EUGENE ROXAS

Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory. Photo © ABI®

SUCRE, Bolivia .— After the request of social organizations to amend the design of second part of the road Villa Tunari-San Ignacio de Moxos, the dignitary of State defended the construction of 306 km, which, according to indigenous people, damage the biodiversity.

Morales questioned:

"According to information, 60 miles inside would be a pristine wilderness. That no one had come there, but (that) is false. There a few loggers looted timber from all Isiboro Secure. "

He said, also, former Senator of Beni Departament, Walter Guiteras and other regional leaders pillaged the forest. The road project dates from 1826, one year after the founding of the Republic.

“Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory is not so virgin—pristine wilderness— , as they say. It is generally said that a road never pass through a forest reserve. (That is) false. In Europe, in America there are roads that pass through parks, forest reserves, ".

Although the government called for next Tuesday 9 in Trinidad to a dialogue with indigenous representatives, the call of the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB) for The March to La Paz in 15th August to protest for the construction of the road is still on.

Source: ERBOL / ABI / PAGINASIETE^®