In 2019, a group of Indigenous youth from the Urus community in Southwestern Bolivia took a bold step to protect their precious Uru Uru Lake, which has suffered from pollution due to waste from the city of Oruro. The result of their efforts, known as the Uru Uru Team, is a shining example of how a community can use tradition and science for the greater good.
Uru Uru Lake is a breathtaking natural wonder. However, this vital ecosystem has been under siege from the effects of pollution. The waste and contaminants flowing from the city of Oruro have taken a toll on the lake, endangering the Indigenous community's way of life and the unique flora and fauna that call this region home.
The Uru Uru Team has combined traditional Indigenous wisdom with modern science, creating floating rafts made from recycled materials and native plants. These serve a dual purpose, not only do they provide a home for local vegetation, but they also act as natural filters, absorbing heavy metals and contaminants from the lake's waters. The result has been astonishing, with lake pollution levels reduced by an impressive 30 per cent!
Beyond ecological restoration, the organisation has worked with the Urus community and ensure long-term sustainability. Through capacity-building initiatives, the group helped establish a community garden. This garden serves as a source of income for the community, enabling them to maintain the floating rafts and continue their conservation work.
The Uru Uru Team is one of the winners of the 2023 Equator Prize, recognising 10 outstanding Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities around the world demonstrating the power of local action and traditional knowledge.
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Hi Sarah Chabane, Your climate love reached over 50 agrees, well done! Unfortunately, we couldn't find an email address for Uru Uru Team to notify them. To create buzz so that they may respond, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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The Uru Uru Team is an inspiration to us all. It demonstrates the power of local action and traditional knowledge to address even the most complex environmental challenges.
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Thanks to Uru Uru team for their tremendous effort.
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Protecting the lake means the aquatic life too is protected
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The effort of Uru Uru team to bring back the beauty of the Earth's natural is commendable
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This Uru Uru team is restoring life to our beautiful environment
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Uru indigenous youth are doing well let us hold hands together we restore this beautiful serenity of our environment 💪
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The Uru Uru Team's approach of combining traditional knowledge with scientific methods is a great example of how communities can work towards sustainable solutions. It's important for us all to recognize the impact of pollution and waste on our planet and take steps to address it.