Bolivia’s New Wildlife Reserve Protects 715,000 Acres of Amazon Life Corridor

Quick Smiles:

• American NGO helps create a massive wildlife reserve in Bolivia
• Scientists call the 780-mile Iténez River a “link of life” for Amazon species
• Rainforest Trust celebrates 70 million acres conserved across the Amazon

An American conservation group has helped establish a 715,000-acre wildlife reserve along Bolivia’s Iténez River, giving jaguars, river dolphins, and countless other species a vital corridor to thrive.

The Rainforest Trust partnered with local organizations to protect this stretch of wilderness, where the 780-mile river forms the northeast border between Bolivia and Brazil. Scientists describe the waterway as a “link of life” because it connects fragmented habitats and allows animals to move safely between protected areas.

The newly created reserve adds to the group’s remarkable achievement of safeguarding 70 million acres of Amazon rainforest across multiple countries. Conservationists say this cumulative effort demonstrates how focused partnerships can reverse habitat loss and give wildlife room to flourish.

“This is proof that when communities, scientists, and NGOs work together, we can still save the most important places on Earth.”

The Iténez River reserve will be managed in collaboration with Indigenous communities who have lived along its banks for generations. Their traditional knowledge is helping shape sustainable-use zones that balance human needs with wildlife protection.

Officials expect the new designation to limit illegal logging and mining while boosting eco-tourism that benefits local families. Early monitoring already shows increased sightings of rare species moving through the protected corridor.

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