The president of the Provincial Council of Cáceres and head of the Extremadura Local Cooperation Fund (FELCODE), Miguel Ángel Morales, welcomed a delegation of authorities and experts from Bolivia's Chiquitanía region. The delegation is in Extremadura to learn about best practices in cultural heritage management and conservation.
This visit is part of the project titled 'Linking World Heritage: Mérida and the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos', supported by FELCODE and funded by the Mérida City Council. The initiative aims to establish and strengthen cooperative ties between two UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites.
The project seeks to enhance the institutional and technical capacities of local governments in the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos through knowledge exchange and direct contact with successful experiences in Mérida regarding heritage management and conservation.
The delegation includes Felman Gómez Paesano, mayor of San Ignacio de Velasco and president of the Missions Plan; Marcelo Vargas Pérez, executive director of the Missions Plan; and Ruddy Rolando Cuéllar Rivero, director of the Centre for Participation and Sustainable Human Development (CEPAD), a partner of FELCODE in Bolivia.
During the reception, Antonio Fuentes, manager of FELCODE, explained that the visit provides an opportunity to understand the structures and operations of entities and consortia involved in the daily management of heritage assets.
The Missions Plan is an inter-institutional programme involving municipalities and the regional government, supported by international cooperation, aimed at preserving and managing the mission churches of Chiquitos, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Felman Gómez Paesano emphasised the significance of this exchange for bringing back knowledge and experiences to his municipality. He stated, 'We come with the purpose of exchanging knowledge through culture and tourism,' highlighting the interest in understanding how Spain operates to create more opportunities for its population.
He also expressed gratitude to FELCODE for its commitment and the chance to learn from other local management and development experiences. Gómez Paesano underscored the importance of collaboration between institutions and international cooperation to promote regional development. 'I have always believed that unity strengthens and empowers communities,' he asserted, advocating for joint efforts as a means to generate opportunities and improve citizens' quality of life.
San Ignacio de Velasco, located in Bolivia's Santa Cruz department, has a population of around 96,000 and significant economic potential linked to livestock and agriculture. The conservation of heritage and its use as a cultural and tourism resource also present an opportunity for sustainable development in the region.
Through this project, FELCODE continues to promote decentralised cooperation and the exchange of experiences among local governments, facilitating shared knowledge that contributes to improved public management, cultural heritage protection, and the creation of new development opportunities. The initiative also strengthens ties between Extremadura and Bolivia, based on a shared heritage understood not only as a historical legacy but also as a driver of social cohesion, identity, and future for their communities.
