Plan Director de la Cuenca Poopó: Bs 897 million announced in December 2015
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
After Lake Poopó was reported dry, Bolivian officials announced in December 2015 a Plan Director for the Poopó basin: Bs 897 million over five years, Bs 8 million for a first stage and, per BBC Mundo, about US$130 million to be sought from international donors. No source reviewed records how much was spent or what was measured afterwards.
Announced in December 2015 (Correo del Sur); BBC Mundo gives about US$130 million required and EFE gives 800 million bolivianos needed to save the lake.
Status As of October 2023: the plan's spending is not on record, and Correo del Sur reported the lake completely dry on 19 October 2023.
- Lake Poopó and about 350 families, mostly fishers (BBC Mundo) — Lake reported dry in December 2015 El Mostrador / BBC Mundo
What happened
In December 2015, as Lake Poopó was reported dry, Correo del Sur reported Bs 897 million for the Plan Director de la Cuenca Poopó, to be executed over five years, with short-, medium- and long-term phases of five, 10 and 20 years, and Bs 8 million for a first stage covering machinery, dredging and bringing water to the lake. BBC Mundo reported on 23 December 2015 that the government and the department of Oruro announced a restoration plan with US$3.25 million, mainly for humanitarian aid and technical studies on the flow arriving from the Desaguadero, and that international financing would be sought for the Plan Director, which would require about US$130 million; Ortuño called it the government's biggest challenge. EFE reported on 9 February 2016 that the government estimated 800 million bolivianos were needed to save the lake.
Los Tiempos reported on 6 August 2016 that the Ministry of Environment said a dam within a programme including Lake Titicaca and the Desaguadero would be concluded in 2017; the article gives no amounts. A separate Plan Director of the Poopó basin was formulated by the GITEC–COBODES consortium between February 2013 and October 2014 under the EU-funded Programa Cuenca Poopó; the sources reviewed do not say whether it is the plan announced in December 2015. No source reviewed records the amount spent from the announced sums, or any measurement of the lake or basin attributed to the plan.
In nature's name
Promised
- “Bs 897 million for the Plan Director de la Cuenca Poopó, to be executed over five years.” — Government of Bolivia, as reported by Correo del Sur (December 2015) Correo del Sur
Money moved in nature's name
| What | Kind | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Director de la Cuenca Poopó, announced for execution over five years (announced; phases of five, 10 and 20 years; spending not on record) Government of Bolivia Correo del Sur | Budget | 897m BOB | 2015–2020 |
| First stage: machinery, dredging and water supply to the lake (as reported by Correo del Sur) Government of Bolivia and Gobernación de Oruro Correo del Sur | Budget | 8m BOB | 2015 |
| Restoration plan, mainly humanitarian aid and technical studies on Desaguadero flow (as reported by BBC Mundo) Government of Bolivia and department of Oruro El Mostrador / BBC Mundo | Budget | $3.25m | 2015 |
| Plan Director requirement, international financing to be sought (a stated requirement, not funds raised) Government of Bolivia El Mostrador / BBC Mundo | Budget | ≈ $130m | 2015 |
Benefit to nature: what was measured
No source reviewed records spending from the announced sums or any measurement of the lake or basin attributed to the plan. The lake was reported completely dry by the Gobernación de Oruro in October 2023 and measured at 1,449.6 km² in August 2025 by a satellite map reported by El Deber; neither is linked to the plan in the sources.
Operation Ongoing · Phases of five, 10 and 20 years were announced in December 2015; no later status is on record. Correo del Sur
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record None on record: the amount spent from the Bs 897 million, the Bs 8 million, the US$3.25 million or any international financing for the plan.
- None on record None on record: a measurement of the lake or basin attributed to the plan; Correo del Sur reported the lake completely dry in October 2023.
- Unclear Unclear: whether the plan announced in December 2015 is the Plan Director formulated by GITEC–COBODES in 2013–2014 under the EU programme.
- Disputed Disputed: the plan's cost: Bs 897 million (Correo del Sur), about US$130 million (BBC Mundo), 800 million bolivianos to save the lake (EFE).
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- La tragedia del PoopóCorreo del Sur · 2015-12-19
- ¿Cómo se secó el Poopó, el segundo lago más grande de Bolivia? (BBC Mundo, via El Mostrador)El Mostrador / BBC Mundo · 2015-12-23
- Un satélite confirma la evaporación completa del lago Poopó, en Bolivia (EFE)elDiario.es / Agencia EFE · 2016-02-09
- El Poopó se evaporó e intentan recuperarloLos Tiempos · 2016-08-06
- Lago Poopó está totalmente secoCorreo del Sur · 2023-10-19
Connected cases
- EU-funded Programa Cuenca Poopó, Bolivia, 2010–2015: EUR 14.21 million planned for the Poopó basin Bolivia · 2010–2015 Related matter
- Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State) (Government) — here: Announced the plan; the vice-minister of Water Resources and Irrigation described it as the government's biggest challenge (BBC Mundo); there: Signed the agreement and provided counterpart funds of EUR 3,275,000 (planned)
- Gobernación de Oruro (departmental government) (Public authority) — here: Departmental government that announced the plan with the national government; there: Departmental government that coordinated the programme with the municipalities
- Lake Poopó, Oruro, Bolivia: the lake reported dry in December 2015, partial refills and a new dry spell in 2023 Bolivia · 1994–2025 Related matter
- Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State) (Government) — here: Announced the plan; the vice-minister of Water Resources and Irrigation described it as the government's biggest challenge (BBC Mundo); there: National government that made the December 2015 statements and requested the Ramsar mission
- Gobernación de Oruro (departmental government) (Public authority) — here: Departmental government that announced the plan with the national government; there: Departmental government; reported lake areas, approved the 2015 disaster declaration according to EFE
- Huanuni sub-basin mining contamination in the Lake Poopó basin: emergency decrees, a 2022 constitutional ruling and an IACHR hearing Bolivia · 2009–2025
- Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State) (Government) — here: Announced the plan; the vice-minister of Water Resources and Irrigation described it as the government's biggest challenge (BBC Mundo); there: Issued Supreme Decrees 335 (2009) and 5442 (2025); responded at the IACHR hearing
- Gobernación de Oruro (departmental government) (Public authority) — here: Departmental government that announced the plan with the national government; there: Departmental government named in the claim; its secretary of environment was a defendant
- Bolivia's decree 3973 allowed forest clearing and controlled burns before 2024 fires Bolivia · 2019–2024
- Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State) (Government) — here: Announced the plan; the vice-minister of Water Resources and Irrigation described it as the government's biggest challenge (BBC Mundo); there: Issued decree 3973 authorising clearing and controlled burning
- Bolivia's legislature withholds approval of CATL-linked lithium contracts Bolivia · 2025
- Government of Bolivia (Plurinational State) (Government) — here: Announced the plan; the vice-minister of Water Resources and Irrigation described it as the government's biggest challenge (BBC Mundo); there: reviewing the contracts