I am Dayana Blanco, an Aymara Indigenous woman from Bolivia and an environmental climate activist. I am the co-founder of the Uru Uru Team, an Indigenous women-led organization dedicated to restoring Lake Uru Uru, a sacred body of water that is both the heart of our communities and a recognized Ramsar Site.

Lake Uru Uru is home to seven Indigenous communities and 76 species of birds, yet it is under threat from illegal mining, plastic pollution, and the devastating impacts of climate change. These destructive forces have turned our ancestral waters into a symbol of resistance, strengthening our fight to defend what we call our only house.

Our work is rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors and strengthened by science. We are planting totoras, native aquatic plants, in the lake’s polluted waters as a nature-based solution. This eco-friendly method cleans the water, revives biodiversity, and sustains the livelihoods and culture of our people.

For me, this is more than conservation, it is about climate justice. It is about giving Indigenous voices the place they deserve in global climate action and ensuring that our traditions guide the path toward restoring balance between humans and nature.

I seek to continue this struggle for our people, our culture, and our Lake Uru Uru, because protecting it means protecting life itself.