Gabriel Baracatt

Gabriel Baracatt is reducing urban impact on nature preserves in southern Bolivia and northern Argentina through a community-based development model that addresses human economic needs as integral to environmental protection.

Tarija is Bolivia's southernmost city, the urban area nearest the 600,000 Tariquia Flora and Fauna National Reserve, which preserves its watershed. From Tarija, Gabriel Baracatt works to conserve the ecologies of both the reserve and the city. His work grows out of his concept of human rights. In his words, "One of the best ways to better the quality of life of the Bolivian people is by conserving their environment." He has done the hard work of creating a method to address poverty and natural resources together in a country that has a high degree of both. Through Protection of the Tarija Environment, the organization Gabriel founded, he develops economic alternatives for the poor residents of Tarija-many of whom are drought refugees from Bolivia's high Andean plains-and the indigenous communities surrounding the reserve. He works at all levels to educate and build a constituency for the environment, on the principle that it is necessary to reach people in the town before their impact reaches the wilderness.The government of Bolivia has created numerous parks but lacks a system to manage them. Gabriel seizes the opportunity to influence the evolving public policy for environmental management with his model, with its emphases on public-private partnerships, community development and education.