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Great Ape Conservation Act | Carpa Verde | Shade-grown Coffee
"Green Tent" Brings Conservation Message to Bolivian Communities
Communities in and around Bolivia's diverse Madidi National Park have enjoyed a unique visitor in the past few months. A "green tent" or "Carpa Verde," filled with activities designed to excite residents about biodiversity, has stopped by local towns and villages, sometimes traveling to more remote locations by mule. Its goal: to educate children and adults about the region's ecology and instill the message that their support is essential to the park's survival.Carpa Verde is a joint project of CI, USAID, the Bolivian National Protected Area Service and CARE. More than 1,000 students and adults have visited the tent since the road trip began in July, taking part in hands-on exhibits and games that bring to life biodiversity that is literally in their backyard. The Carpa Verde has visited large towns as well as smaller communities, some located within Madidi park boundaries. "This is an important follow-up to the Madidi Week celebrations held last year to raise awareness about Madidi National Park," explains CI International Communications Vice President Haroldo Castro. "Madidi Week was very successful, but we couldn't stop there. Environmental education is a long-term process."Local government and education officials work closely with CI to orchestrate each event. Park rangers, CARE and CI staff facilitate Carpa Verde activities, along with local teachers who are trained during the tour to lead the games and interpret the exhibits, linking the Carpa Verde to classroom activities. The Carpa Verde is an ongoing part of CI-Bolivia's strategy to integrate environmental education into schools around protected areas.
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