ProBosque II: Protection of forests and the climate in Chiquitania

Context

Chiquitania is a savannah region in eastern Bolivia. The species-rich dry forest of this region is one of the world’s largest contiguous dry forest ecosystems still in existence today. 

The ongoing conversion of forests into land for agriculture and livestock poses a serious threat to their existence. These changes in land use have a noticeable impact on the local climate, as evidenced in particular by the increasing scarcity of water. The main reason for forest loss lies in their low added value. 

Objective

The economic and strategic-political framework conditions for sustainable forest preservation in Chiquitania have improved. Environmentally friendly and socially acceptable forest management is implemented on an area of 18,000 hectares.

Approach

The project supports the introduction of innovations and the removal of regulatory restrictions on forest management. The overall aim is to make forest management more profitable.

The implementation of new methods on a pilot basis in twelve indigenous communities in the municipalities of San Ignacio de Velasco, Concepción and San Antonio de Lomerio is currently being planned. The new methods have been designed in such a way that they can be introduced in other regions at a later date. In this case, the project provides advice on both wood and non-wood products. The intention is to strengthen the administrative and technical capacities of indigenous communities and to take gender aspects into consideration. The project also supports the establishment of marketing structures in cooperation with the private sector.

The sharing of experiences and the development of joint strategies are carried out through local and national networks. In order to promote sustainable afforestation, the project works together with the Forestry Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Forest and Land Control Authority to identify regulatory barriers and adapt them accordingly.

Since 2022, the project also supports the monitoring of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in the forest area, and the national forest fund FONABOSQUE to expand its funding sources.