Faunagua
Faunagua is a Bolivian non-profit conservation organization, founded in 2004 in Cochabamba, that conducts community-led research and conservation across Andean and Amazonian aquatic ecosystems, serving fishing communities, indigenous groups, municipal governments, and international funders in Bolivia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersCochabamba, Bolivia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Faunagua does
Faunagua (FAUNAGUA) is a non-governmental, non-profit conservation organization founded in 2004 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, focused on the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and wetlands. The organization operates across the Andean and Amazonian basins of Bolivia, delivering five core programs: invasive species management (notably Arapaima gigas / paiche control), urban and peri-urban environmental management, watershed and water/forest management, endangered species protection (especially the Bolivian river dolphin Inia boliviensis), and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Its work is conducted through community-led conservation involving Amazonian fishing communities and Andean highland communities, supported by partnerships with municipal governments, indigenous groups, SERNAP, and international NGOs such as WWF-Bolivia.
The organization's technology and data infrastructure includes a five-station meteorological network spanning elevations from 120m to 4000m, the APP BUFEO citizen science mobile application for dolphin monitoring, the ICTIO participatory fishing monitoring platform, a GIS cartography system built on ARCMAP with web geoportals for biodiversity and Polylepis forest mapping, and remote sensing / drone capabilities. Faunagua also maintains an extensive publications repository, the Peces para la Vida web portal for aquaculture monitoring, and the Acción Andina reforestation program that has produced over 467,000 kewiña (Polylepis) seedlings for high-Andean forest restoration.
The organization's revenue model is project-driven grant funding from international donors and development institutions including WWF-Bolivia, IDRC, World Bank, FAO, INIAF, Bezos Earth Fund (via Conserva Aves), Franklinia Foundation, and Van Tienhoven Foundation. Operations are staffed by a small core team of 1-10 specialists including project chiefs, GIS experts, a forestry specialist, sustainable aquaculture expert, and administrative staff. Customers/beneficiaries span Amazonian fishing communities, Andean highland communities, municipal and national government agencies (Puerto Villarroel, Baures, Tiquipaya, Cocapata, SERNAP), and the aquaculture sector in Bolivia. Faunagua does not sell products or services commercially; its operations are sustained entirely through grants, project funding, and institutional support.
Faunagua firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Faunagua
- Legal name
- FAUNAGUA
- Website
- https://faunagua.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Faunagua is a Bolivian non-profit conservation organization, founded in 2004 in Cochabamba, that conducts community-led research and conservation across Andean and Amazonian aquatic ecosystems, serving fishing communities, indigenous groups, municipal governments, and international funders in Bolivia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Faunagua industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Vertebrate Pest & Wildlife Damage Management (AFAMAEAJ), Ecological/Habitat & Land-Use Change Modeling (Biodiversity, Conservation Planning) (EUAHAKAI)
Keywords
Where Faunagua is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cochabamba
- HQ country
- Bolivia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Faunagua business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Project-based funding and grants: FAUNAGUA operates as a non-profit organization that executes research and conservation projects funded by international donors, development banks, foundations, and government agencies. Funding supports specific programs in areas such as invasive species management, sustainable fishing, watershed restoration, and conservation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Faunagua product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FAUNAGUA delivers conservation research, monitoring, and community-based implementation services focused on aquatic biodiversity and watershed management in Bolivia. Its core offerings include five thematic conservation programs (invasive species control, endangered species protection, watershed management, sustainable fisheries, and urban environmental management) backed by proprietary data platforms including the Bufeo mobile application, ICTIO participatory fishing platform, meteorological station network, and GIS cartography geoportal.
Product overview
Faunagua is a Bolivian non-profit conservation organization (founded 2004) offering a portfolio of interconnected research, monitoring, and conservation products centered on aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable resource management. The core offerings include five thematic conservation programs (invasive species, environmental management, watershed management, endangered species, and sustainable fisheries), supported by data infrastructure (real-time meteorological stations, the Bufeo App for citizen science dolphin monitoring, and the ICTIO participatory fishing platform), complemented by knowledge products (technical/dissemination publications, cartography geoportal, infographics, podcasts). Key platforms include the Peces para la Vida web portal for aquaculture monitoring and the Acción Andina reforestation program for high-Andean Polylepis forest restoration. The organization does not operate a traditional SaaS product but provides scientific data services, research tools, and educational resources primarily for conservation practitioners, local communities, and policymakers in Bolivia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conservation Programs (Environmental Management Programs) A suite of five thematic conservation programs covering invasive species management (particularly Arapaima gigas/paiche control), environmental management in urban and peri-urban areas, watershed management, endangered species protection (Bolivian river dolphin/bufeo), and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, designed for municipalities, government agencies, fishing communities, and conservation partners in Bolivia.
- Meteorological Data Platform A real-time climate data platform featuring weather stations across multiple Bolivian locations (Totora at 4000m, Cruzani at 3000m, Puerto Villarroel at 280m, Bella Vista at 120m, and Tiquipaya at 2700m) measuring temperature, precipitation, wind direction/speed, and humidity. Data is downloadable in Excel format and used for flood early warning systems, frost/hail monitoring, and climate impact studies on fisheries, available free to municipalities, communities, and researchers.
- Cartography and Geoportal Thematic mapping services and interactive geoportals using ARCGIS, ARCMAP, remote sensing, and drone technology. Includes Aquatic Ecological Systems (SEAs) maps, fisheries resources maps, aquaculture maps, Bolivian ecosystem maps, Tunari National Park maps, Polylepis forest maps, and Bolivian bufeo (river dolphin) distribution maps for decision-makers and researchers.
- Bufeo App (Bolivian River Dolphin Monitoring Application) A citizen science mobile application enabling fishermen and navigators in the Bolivian Amazon to register observations of the Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis) and document threats, supporting participatory conservation monitoring across the Amazon region.
- Acción Andina - Kewiña Reforestation Program A high-Andean forest restoration initiative focused on Polylepis (kewiña) reforestation in the Tunari Cordillera, featuring community nurseries in Chiaraje and Kumara communities, participatory monitoring, and ecosystem services quantification including water regulation and carbon sequestration for Andean highland communities and municipalities.
- Peces para la Vida Platform A web platform and repository of fisheries research and aquaculture management information for the Bolivian Amazon, providing access to normative frameworks, technical studies, and aquaculture portal data showing approximately 6,000 tonnes of annual fish production, supporting sustainable fishing and aquaculture development.
- ICTIO Participatory Fishing Monitoring Platform A participatory fishing monitoring platform and methodology used by fishermen in Cachuela Esperanza and Puerto Villarroel for citizen science data collection on migratory fish populations and hydroelectric dam impacts, generating the core dataset behind FAUNAGUA's 25+ years of continuous fisheries monitoring.
- Publications Repository A digital library of technical and dissemination publications covering aquatic ecosystems, fisheries management, invasive species, river dolphins, and Amazonian biodiversity in Bolivia, including peer-reviewed scientific articles, FAO technical papers, and educational materials available for download.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 467,000 kewiña seedlings reforested and over 105,000 planted in community efforts
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Faunagua
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Faunagua technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Faunagua partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- ECOAN (Peru)corePartnership under the Acción Andina initiative for restoration of Andean Polylepis (kewiña) forests in the Tunari Cordillera. ECOAN provides technical support and coordination for high-altitude forest restoration efforts.
- Global Forest GenerationcoreCollaboration on kewiña forest restoration projects supporting community nurseries and large-scale reforestation activities in Andean watersheds.
- WWF-BoliviacoreCooperation on Bolivian river dolphin conservation including SARDI (South American River Dolphin Initiative), responsible tourism promotion, and research expeditions. WWF provides funding and technical support for conservation activities.
- SARDI (South American River Dolphin Initiative)coreRegional initiative bringing together WWF offices in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru plus partner organizations to conserve river dolphins across the Amazon basin.
- Asociación ArmoníacoreLocal partner for biodiversity conservation, involved in ecosystem services quantification projects and Darwin Initiative-funded work on Polylepis forests.
- WWF-BoliviacoreSupport for the development and approval of the Ramsar Rio Blanco site management plan in the Bolivian Amazon.
- INIAF (Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agropecuaria y Forestal)majorGovernment agricultural innovation institute that has supported FAUNAGUA's invasive species research and management programs, particularly regarding Arapaima gigas.
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)majorUnited Nations agency that has supported FAUNAGUA's work on invasive species management through publications and technical guidance on Arapaima gigas control.
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética (UMSS)coreAcademic department of the Mayor de San Simón University providing scientific support for biodiversity research and satellite tagging of river dolphins.
- Universidad de Victoria (Canada)majorCanadian university partner in the Peces para la Vida project contributing to sustainable fishing and aquaculture research.
- Agua SustentablecoreLocal NGO partner in the Peces para la Vida project working on sustainable water and fishing resource management.
- World Fisheries TrustmajorInternational organization supporting sustainable fisheries research and management in the Bolivian Amazon.
- ACEAA Conservación AmazónicamajorAmazon conservation organization collaborating on paiche (Arapaima) management and the 'Eat Paiche' campaign for invasive species control.
- SERNAP (National Service of Protected Areas)coreGovernment agency overseeing protected areas collaborating on invasive species control in protected areas including Manuripi Wildlife Sanctuary.
- FUNDESNAPmajorFoundation participating in the Conserva Aves initiative implementing the Agua Dulce reserve project for ecosystem conservation.
- Tiquipaya MunicipalitycoreMunicipal government partner for reforestation projects, meteorological stations, and urban environmental management including Parada Cero project.
- Cocapata MunicipalitycoreMunicipal government partner for kewiña forest restoration in the northern slope of Tunari Cordillera.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Faunagua competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Faunagua social profiles
Digital presenceFaunagua financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Faunagua leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Faunagua funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Faunagua M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Faunagua
What does Faunagua do?
FAUNAGUA delivers conservation research, monitoring, and community-based implementation services focused on aquatic biodiversity and watershed management in Bolivia. Its core offerings include five thematic conservation programs (invasive species control, endangered species protection, watershed management, sustainable fisheries, and urban environmental management) backed by proprietary data platforms including the Bufeo mobile application, ICTIO participatory fishing platform, meteorological station network, and GIS cartography geoportal.
Is Faunagua a public or private company?
Faunagua is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Faunagua founded?
Faunagua was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Faunagua based?
Faunagua is headquartered in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the Latin America region.
How does Faunagua make money?
One revenue line is on record: project-based funding and grants.
Does Faunagua have an API?
No public API is recorded for Faunagua.
What industry is Faunagua in?
Faunagua's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection. Its NAICS code is 11531 and its SIC code is 800.