Visiting the Petroglyphs of San Miguel del Bala
The IEK-CHANGES team had the unique opportunity to visit the ancient petroglyphs of San Miguel del Bala, located within the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands. This visit held deep symbolic significance for our team, as the project seeks to engage with both the material and immaterial cultural heritage of Amazonian Indigenous communities. Standing […]
Visit to the Estación Biológica del Beni
The IEK-CHANGES team visited the Director of the Estación Biológica del Beni, Rolando Sánchez de la Vega, to explore possibilities for collaboration and joint work in the region. The Estación Biológica del Beni, a biosphere reserve in the Bolivian Amazon, is home to several Tsimane’ communities that the team will be visiting as part of […]
Research Authorization Granted by the Gran Consejo Tsimane’
We are deeply honoured to share that the Gran Consejo Tsimane’, the legitimate political organization representing the Tsimane’ people, has granted us authorization to carry out our research within the Tsimane’ Territory. We are especially grateful to the President of the Gran Consejo, Maguin Gutiérrez, for warmly receiving us and engaging in an insightful conversation […]
First journey into the Tsimane’ Territory
The IEK-CHANGES team embarks on their first journey into the Tsimane’ Territory. This trip marks a very special beginning. As they glide through the waters of the Maniqui (this living, breathing river that threads together worlds!!!) they are not just traveling into Tsimane’ Territory, but into a profoundly rich lifeworld, shaped by generations of knowledge […]
Congratulations to Alexandra Konieczny on Her Outstanding Master’s Thesis Defense
We are thrilled to share that Alexandra Konieczny has successfully defended her Master’s thesis, developed within the framework of the IEK-CHANGES project. A student in the MSc programme in Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Alexandra presented her thesis entitled “A Comprehensive Assessment of Palm (Arecaceae) Uses […]
Visit to the Herbario Nacional de Bolivia
The IEK-CHANGES team visited the Herbario Nacional de Bolivia to meet with our research partners and begin planning the practical aspects of botanical specimen collection. This visit marked an important step in laying the foundations for our ongoing collaboration with the Herbarium. We are especially grateful to Professor Mónica Moraes for guiding us through the […]
IEK-CHANGES Team Arrives in Bolivia
The IEK-CHANGES team has landed in Bolivia! Over the coming days, they will be based in La Paz, where they will meet with our research partners at Bolivia’s National Herbarium, and finalize the logistics for the next phase of fieldwork. Once preparations are complete, they will head to the Bolivian Amazon to begin our on-the-ground […]
IEK-CHANGES Ethics Workshop with Prof. Jerome Lewis
From May 22–24, 2025, the IEK-CHANGES team was delighted to welcome Dr. Jerome Lewis (University College London, UK), the project’s appointed Ethics Advisor, for a dedicated workshop held at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to review the project’s ethical approach, discuss progress to date, and ensure that all […]
Preparing for the unexpected: first aid and safety training
Before heading into the forests of the Bolivian Amazon, our team took part in an intensive first aid and field safety course led by the excellent professionals of the Institut d’Estudis Mèdics (IEM) in Barcelona. Fieldwork in remote environments requires not only strong research skills, but also the ability to respond calmly and effectively when […]
Research permit granted by the Bolivian Ministry of the Environment and Water
We are thrilled to share that the Dirección General de Biodiversidad y Áreas Protegidas of the Ministry of the Environment and Water of the Plurinational State of Bolivia has officially authorized the IEK-CHANGES project to conduct research in the country. This permit allows us to carry out ethnobiological research and to collect plant specimens in […]
