Report

As a Summer 2002 Coca-Cola World Citizenship Program intern, I worked with the Forest Management Trust (FMT) and their partner organization, the Bolivia Sustainable Forest Management Project (BOLFOR), on a sustainable community forestry project.

Bolivia is an amazing country, with a great deal of geographical diversity that includes Amazonian rainforest, lush valleys, high plateaus, and rugged mountains. The people, like their food, are just as diverse. Most are descendents of the different indigenous peoples, further mixed with colonial, mainly Spanish, forebears.

Bolivia currently leads the developing world in well-managed forests, and in efforts to develop sustainable forestry. New laws there have emphasized sustainable forestry. The most important of these is a 1996 forestry law that essentially requires all logging operations to practice sustainable forest management.

The ongoing transformation of the forestry sector has generated a demand for services that need to be provided either by existing or new institutions. To help meet these needs, BOLFOR has worked with training institutions, technical assistance NGOs, and forestry consulting firms. The contributions of the FMT and BOLFOR partnership towards reaching these goals has resulted in the continuation of research and training programs started under the auspices of BOLFOR.

BOLFOR has a central objective of developing participatory approaches to community forest management. This requires forging partnerships with local communities and other stakeholders to ensure the long-term conservation of Bolivia's rich biodiversity. The forest areas to be managed must be exactly defined and classified according to the goals of their management (protection, production, public recreation, etc.).

Bearing in mind the high level of complexity of social interests in the forest, it's extremely vital at this stage of the planning to involve each interested sector related with forest management. Once the main functions of each forest area are defined, it is also important to analyze the potential of the forest itself to fulfill these functions. Also to provide some general advice as to the measures that have to be adopted in this management.

While undertaking my internship I learned a great deal about BOLFOR, CIFOR, and FMT. These institutions provided me with direct support. Further, they allowed me to make a significant contribution to the management plan through the use of participatory planning.

It is amazing to think that just three months had such a significant impact on my life. Because of this great experience, I have currently switched my dissertation research to focus on Bolivia. I would like to thank all of those that supported my internship, including the Coca-Cola Foundation, BOLFOR, CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research: Peter Cronkelton), Forest Management Trust, and the University of Florida.

Photo Gallery

Natural resources map drawn by the Ayoreo Community of Santa Teresita, Bolivia.

Natural resources map detail.

I help in conducting participatory methods with the Bolivia Sustainable Forest Management Project, Center for International Forestry Research, and the Ayoreo Community of Santa Teresita to assist in the formation of the community's management plan.

Members of the of the Ayoreo Community of Santa Teresita draw their 'scenarios' of the future community in a participatory planning exercise.

Ayoreo Community members drawing their scenarios.

An Ayoreo woman makes a handbag From Garabatá, a non-timber forest product.

Members of the of the Ayoreo Community who participated in the participatory planning exercise.

Children of the Ayoreo Community of Santa Teresita, Bolivia.

I relax at the BOLFOR Truck with the children of the of the Ayoreo Community of Santa Teresita.

Processing data with the BOLFOR staff in the regional office of San Jose de Chiquitos.

Peter Cronkelton of CIFOR with his nephew in front of the Jesuit Mission in San Jose de Chiquitos.