La Paz

Deforestation in the Andean hillsides around La Paz is a major cause of landslides, which have a devastating effect on the city and its inhabitants. As the population of La Paz has expanded thousands of people have built “barrios” or settlements in the surrounding hillsides and cut down trees to use as fuel and building materials.

In 2009 Trees for Cities partnered with the municipal government to provide 4,800 native trees, which were planted in areas of high landslide risk and economic deprivation in the urbanised hillsides of La Paz. As the trees grow they will stabilise the soil and help prevent further landslides.

Trees for Cities' Chief Executive Sharon Johnson said: "This ambitious new project will be important not only in helping to combat pollution levels in the city and to stabilise the soil to prevent landslides which are devastating for the city's residents, but also for raising awareness, among the hundreds of local people who will be mobilised to take part in the project, about the importance of their natural environment."

Trees for Cities relies on donations from individuals in order to deliver projects like the La Paz Project. Please consider supporting our project work by making a donation.

You can also support our work in La Paz by buying a community gift. Or if you’d like to know more about the projects, please contact David Blair at david@treesforcities.org or call 020 7820 4427.