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As a result of investments catalyzed by USAID, Bolivia is now the global leader in the management of natural tropical forests with over nine million of its 32 million hectares (ha) of designated forest lands under approved management plans. As of 2005, approximately, 2.2 million ha have been independently and voluntarily certified as well managed, representing a doubling within just three years. The total value of wood exports is expected to be $130 million in 2006 (of which roughly $21 million will be certified), representing 7% of Bolivia's total exports and supporting more than 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs Indigenous and community groups have also benefited from growth in this sector, 20% of the managed forest lands are directly benefiting these groups who now have clear tenure to their land and who have generated over $600,000 in wood commercial alliances USAID's forest work in Bolivia is conducted through the Bolivia Sustainable Forest Management Project (BOLFOR) as well as partnerships with a number of other local institutions. Working closely with government, the private sector, universities, and civil society since 1994, USAID has catalyzed dramatic change in the forest sector in Bolivia. Through BOLFOR I, the Government of Bolivia established a new forestry model, built on greater openness, more technically and financially independent government institutions, greater popular and municipal participation, and a voluntary certification program. The latter is administered by the Bolivian Council for Voluntary Forest Certification, created in 1995. BOLFOR I also provided support to indigenous and local communities with technical assistance, ranging from internal organization to marketing. BOLFOR II, a six year activity which initiated in 2004 and is implemented through a Cooperative Agreement with The Nature Conservancy, focuses on two primary themes: increasing benefits to Bolivian communities from sustainable natural forest management, and improving business practices that support increased forest exports. Through this program, smallholders will have greater opportunities for and generate benefits from sustainable forest management through their articulation in productive chains and the development of their technical, administrative, and business capacities. Local models of forest management incorporating regional and local governments, businesses, community groups, and other stakeholders will also be created. Best practices in forest management and wood processing will be developed, systematized, and disseminated and the entry of Bolivian wood and non-timber forest products into local and international markets will be promoted. With USAID assistance, the Amazonian Center for Sustainable Forestry (CADEFOR) has become a key player in the sector and is now a national and international reference for markets and best industrial practices in the wood sector. As of 2005, the Center has provided assistance to over 50 companies raising their average productivity by 30% to 147% and has trained over 600 technicians in topics ranging from wood drying to business administration. The Center's financial sustainability, among other factors, is based on charging fees to companies for their technical assistance. A very successful two-year Global Development Alliance (GDA) activity with the Bolivian Forestry Chamber (Camara Forestal de Bolivia) came to a close in March 2006. The Chamber opened two regional offices to provide better service, promote membership, and increase outreach. The communication campaign increased membership, policy information, and commitment from the forestry business community. The institutional strengthening effort and National Forum developed an action plan, created a solid board of directors and improved sustainability. This activity has improved the sustainability of the Forestry Chamber and their ability to promote sound forest management. A second GDA with the Tahuamanu Group (a private Bolivian company), CADEFOR, and Fundación PUMA (created with a U.S. debt reduction in the 1990's), to develop a wood collection and drying hub in the northern department of Pando to increase wood exports is now well underway. The machinery and kilns have been selected, the facility is under construction and four grants to local communities to supply wood in support of this initiative through sustainable forest management have been awarded by the Fundación PUMA. The facility is expected to start operations in April 2007 in time for the next wood harvesting season. This will be the first such hub in the country and will serve as a good model for the creation of the seven additional needed hubs in the country whose absence now creates a bottleneck for meeting the demand for processed wood of export standards. A second phase of the project funded completely by the private sector is envisioned. USAID's forestry activities have also received assistance from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) International Program for a number of years. In 2006, planned activities with USFS include support in the areas of fire management, an ochoo enzymatic stain study and in rural roads planning, construction, and rehabilitation. Additional information about BOLFOR can be obtained by accessing the following websites:
Bolivian Forestry Sector Global Development Alliance In 2004, USAID established Bolivia's first wood collection, processing, and distribution center. The center, funded through a Global Development Alliance, is intended to fill a gap in the wood production chain in the region, and improve timber market access for indigenous and community organizations. The facility was expected to be in operation for the spring 2005 seasonal timber harvest. Biodiversity & Managing Bolivia’s Protected Areas Bolivia ranks among the top ten countries in the world in terms of species richness and ecological diversity and in response has developed an extensive network of 22 nationally protected areas, as well as a decentralized system of departmental, municipal and private conservation areas. Some of Bolivia's poorest and most marginalized peoples live in or near these protected areas and in many cases their livelihood is wholly dependent on the resources stemming from these areas. It is estimated that about 1.5 million people live within protected areas or their buffer zones.
Over the last several years, USAID supported programs to conserve biodiversity along the eastern flank of the Andes, specifically in Madidi National Park, Amboro National Park, and Carrasco National Park, as well as in other important eco-regions of Bolivia, including Noel Kempff Mercado, Eduardo Avaroa and Kaa-Iya National Parks. To learn more about these projects, visit USAID's partner websites on Bolivian biodiversity activities: Parks in Peril, Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund In 2005, increasing levels of social conflict resulting from pressure for more land and the need for economic opportunities have resulted in more frequent incursions into the parks for illegal hunting, logging and cultivation of coca and other crops. To mitigate conflict in these areas and protect Bolivia's globally significant biodiversity, USAID/Bolivia's conservation program provided alternative and sustainable livelihood opportunities for local people; strengthened governance systems, especially at local levels; promoted equitable implementation of land tenure policies and helped to create proper incentives for municipal and private sector conservation efforts. A new landscape conservation program was awarded late in FY2005 to Conservation International in partnership with a host of local partners. The program builds on previous achievements and lessons learned, is responsive to the changing socio-political context, and broadens the nature and expertise of implementing partners to more directly incorporate municipal interests and actors. USAID's new program will work to: (1) strengthen participatory local governance, increase economic opportunities, and improve biodiversity conservation in the Apolobamba-Madidi-Pilón Lajas landscape; (2) improve environmental and land use planning, promote sustainable development, and strengthen organizational capacities in the Amboró-Carrasco landscape; (3) strengthen the capacity of central government institutions to develop key policies and technical tools that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development; (4) promote knowledge management, learning and innovation on sustainable economic development and biodiversity conservation; and, (5) raise awareness of local populations and general public on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources through formal and non-formal education as well as a public relations campaign. In late 2005 USAID initiated a two-year Cooperative Agreement
with the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF). The purpose of
this program is to build Bolivian capacity to use economic
analysis and incentives to achieve biodiversity conservation
objectives in Bolivia's protected areas system and to more
soundly manage Bolivia's natural resources.
USAID/Bolivia supports the Center for the Promotion of Sustainable Technologies, (Centro de Promoción de Tecnologías Sostenibles, or CPTS), which works with key industries to re-design their production processes. This is intended to abate pollution, increase energy efficiency, and reduce production costs. By helping companies save money, the program provides a powerful financial incentive to adopt cleaner production practices and reduce pollution. Recent assessments demonstrate that by working with local companies, CPTS has been able to save the equivalent of two months of water consumption by the city of La Paz. In another instance, the program helped to develop a successful quinua processing prototype which processed grains to a higher quality and increased production capacity of the company from 30 tons/month to 160 tons/month. Clients of the company in Europe and the United States have already increased their product orders. In addition, a market was identified for use of the saponin, a filmy layer surrounding the quinua grains, which had previously been dumped into the nearby river causing high levels of toxicity. The machinery is being patented so that it can be disseminated free-of-charge to all quinua producers in the country who wish to use it, thus increasing the potential of quinua exports for Bolivia. During the initial phase of the Cleaner Production (CP) program, CP tools to increase awareness of and to create a market for cleaner production services and to consolidate the lessons learned in the Bolivian context were developed. These tools included: case studies to demonstrate the economic, social and environment benefits of applying cleaner production practices in different industries and service sectors; cleaner production guides that provide step-by-step instructions for technicians to implement cleaner production in different industries; cleaner production manuals that outline general methods for promoting efficient use of water, energy and raw materials; establishment of the Cleaner Production Fund with the contribution of the World Bank to facilitate financing for the implementation of cleaner production measures; and, legal support to improve environmental impact standards under the Bolivian Environmental Law in the industrial sector. Learn more about cleaner
production efforts at USAID.
USAID's climate change activities in Bolivia promote sustainable land use and forestry management practices, improve the management of parks and protected areas, and support redesign of industrial production processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local capacity building, training, and public-private partnerships that promote environmental and resource protection are important strategies in these endeavors. For more information see USAID/EGAT's Bolivia
Climate Change Country Program web page and the Bolivia
Global Climate Change Country Profile (PDF 203K) |
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