WWF honours Bolivia for world’s largest protected wetland
La Paz, Bolivia –WWF has recognized the Bolivian government’s commitment to nature conservation for designating a 6.9 million-hectare area of protected wetlands in the Llanos de Moxos (Moxos Plains), a tropical ecoregion of northern Bolivia in the lowlands of the Amazon basin, with a WWF Gift to the Earth Award.
Under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, Llanos de Moxos is now the largest area of Wetlands of International Importance in the world.
Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF International, presented representatives of the government of Bolivia with a WWF Gift to the Earth, the global conservation organization’s most prestigious award.
In total, Bolivia has committed to designate 15 million hectares of its wetland area as Ramsar sites, demonstrating the government’s political support for freshwater conservation – while contributing significantly to the conservation of the wider Amazon basin.
“WWF recognizes Bolivia as a conservation leader for its pledge to ensure the conservation and wise use of its freshwater resources, clearly stated also in the country’s laudable environmental policies,” said Luís Pabon, Director of WWF-Bolivia. “There will be challenges ahead but we stand ready to support the Bolivian government in taking the next steps necessary to honour their bold commitment.”
The WWF Gift to the Earth ceremony took place on 3 February , 2014 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Bolivian administrative capital La Paz, also commemorating World Wetlands Day, on 2 February, according to WWF statement.
