Buenos Aires, Argentina - IUCN

Annex 4
Opening Address by His Excellency The President of the
Republic of Bolivia, Lic. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada
Some weeks ago, I received an invitation from
Dr Martin Holdgate, Director General of IUCN, for
Bolivia to become a State member of this important
institution.
I wish to express my gratitude for this invitation
and personally convey our acceptance and desire to
share in the efforts of this great Union, which endeavours
to safeguard mankind's future by preserving
nature.
Bolivia is one of the world's poorest countries, and
obviously, being so poor, we cannot await assistance
from the rich countries. We must act now because we
are aware that the poverty in our country is closely
related to the destruction and degradation of the environment
and our natural resources, such as water, soil
and air.
We are also aware that nature and destiny have
granted us a divine gift: our country is situated in the
Andes, and forms part of the Amazon region and the
River Plate system. As a result, it contains numerous
ecosystems entrusted to us by Creation, which we
have a duty to protect for our children and the children
of mankind.
Aware of this, the State of Bolivia introduced a new
system of government: the previous 17 ministries and
8 ministerial institutions have been reduced to 10
ministries. The Ministry of Planning and Coordination
has been changed to the Ministry of Sustainable
Development and the Environment, and given the
utmost importance. We have also transformed the
Economic Development Council, the purpose of
which was to develop the country and thus eliminate
poverty, into the Council for Sustainable Development.
We have realized that, given our present scant
resources, development is impossible without the following:
Economic stability, which we have been able to
achieve through great efforts and sacrifice, overcoming
the hyperinflation that was impoverishing people.
Although necessary, this is still not enough.
We need growth, investment and development
because our people need jobs. Not only is there a need
to survive, there is also a need for dignity.
However, none of this is possible without education
and without health. In view of our scarce resources,
we will not be able to attain these goals without
popular participation. We need the help of the people
to restore the harmony that existed between our
ancestors and nature. Such harmony can only be
achieved if the people participate.
No State, assistance or organization is able to create
the awareness or the conditions needed to repair the
damage suffered by nature, unless the people as a
whole are concerned and participate in environmental
protection and sustainable development.
We are regaining lost techniques from the Incas,
the Aymaras and the Guaranis, who form the majority
of our population. These techniques are being
recovered and taught and we are learning from these
very people in our country that are questioning a
development dynamic that came from outside and
re-discovering a truly transparent dynamic that
respects air, wind, water, their purity and, above all,
the earth and its fertility.
We do not believe that we are going to achieve
miracles in our country, but we are all aware that a
very long journey always requires a first step. We
believe that our acts, our efforts and our determination
may serve as an example, possibly because people will
listen and heed examples rather than just empty
words. We feel that we will not have time to receive
assistance from other countries because charity comes
late, if at all, and in unsatisfactory form.
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