Protection for isolated Indians

The Bolivian government has created a reserve especially for isolated Indians.

The reserve, created to protect the isolated Toromona tribe, is almost 19,000 sq km, and prohibits all logging activity, oil exploration and mining.

Bolivia's neighbour, Peru, has created a number of reserves especially for isolated Indians, but they are all overrun by either illegal loggers or threatened by oil and mining concessions and new roads.

It is estimated there are about 15 different isolated tribes living in Peru, but encounters with loggers mean there are deaths every year.

Survival's Director, Stephen Corry, said today, 'Survival congratulates the government of Bolivia on the creation of this reserve for isolated Indians and urges it to enforce protection on the ground. This move should act as a spur to its neighbour, Peru, to remember its most vulnerable citizens and come to their aid.’