QUARTERLY REPORT

APRIL 1 JUNE 30, 2003

Administrative Document 69/2003

USAID Contract: 511-C-00-93-00027

September, 2003

Chemonics International
1133 20th St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036

Acronyms
AFL
AFRM
AMT
ASL
BOLFOR
CADEFOR
CEDETI
CETEFOR
CFV
FMT
IBIF
INFOBOL
INPA
INRA
MDS
PMOT
SATIF
SIF
TCO
UFI
UFM
USAID
WWF

reas Forestales para Licitacin

rea Forestal de Reserva Municipal / Municipal Forestry Reserve Area
Asociacin de Municipios de Tarija
Agrupaciones Sociales del Lugar / Local Social Groups
Proyecto de Manejo Forestal Sostenible / Bolivia Forestry Management
Project
Centro Amaznico para el Desarrollo Forestal / Amazonian Center for
Forest Enterprise Development
Centro de Tecnologa Intermedia
Centro de Tecnologa Forestal
Consejo Boliviano para la Certificacin Forestal Voluntaria
The Forest Management Trust
Instituto Boliviano de Investigacin Forestal
Inventario Forestal Nacional y Programa de Control de los Recursos
Forestales de Bolivia
Industria del Parquet
Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria / National Institute for Agrarian
Reform
Ministerio de Desarrollo Sostenible / Ministry of Sustainable
Development
Planes Municipales de Ordenamiento Territorial
Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Incendios Forestales
Superintendencia Forestal
Tierras Comunitarias de Origen / Ethnic Communal Lands
Unidades Forestales Indgenas
Unidad Forestal Municipal
Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional / United
States Agency for International Development
World Wildlife Fund

Table of Contents
SECTION I

INTRODUCTION

I-1

1.1
1.2

I-1
I-2

Background
Description of the Final Extension Phase

SECTION II HIGHLIGHTS

II-1

SECTION III PROGRESS

III-1

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
ANNEX I

Ministry of Sustainable Development

Forest Superintendency
Municipal Forestry Units (UFMs)
Local Social Groups
Indigenous Groups
Certification
Forest Product Development and Marketing
Research

III-1
III-6
III-9
III-12
III-13
III-14
III-15
III-17

SECTION I

Introduction
1.1 Background

By means of a Grant Agreement dated August 26, 1993, the Government of Bolivia and the
Government of the United States of America established the implementation of the Bolivia
Sustainable Forest Management Project (BOLFOR). BOLFOR is a project of the Ministry of the
Sustainable Development and Planning, specifically of the Vice-Ministry of Environment and
Natural Resources. The objective of the Project is to reduce the degradation of forests, soil and
water resources and to protect the biological diversity of the forests in Bolivia. Its purpose is to
strengthen the capability of the Bolivian public and private sectors to develop and implement
programs of sustainable and certifiable forest use.
The technical assistance contract followed the Design and Perform Process (DAP) and has as its
principal objective the technical implementation of the BOLFOR Project. Chemonics
International Inc. is the prime contractor.
During its first seven years, BOLFOR was successful in establishing acceptable methods for
sustainably managing natural forests in the tropics, helping concessionaires develop management
plans on more than 6 million hectares. Within the framework of the new forestry law, BOLFOR
helped develop technical regulations, strengthen the newly created Forest Superintendency, and
achieve independent certification under Forest Stewardship Council for nearly 1 million hectares,
making Bolivia a world leader in natural forest management in the tropics.
By the year 2000, the decision was made to add a new three-year phase of BOLFOR to
consolidate the new forest regime and expand forestry activities to social groups, particularly
indigenous territories (TCOs) and local social groups (ASLs).
1.2

Description of the Final Extension Phase

Under the 2001-2003 extension, project results and activities are grouped within three
components or units. These are: Support to the Public Sector, Community Forestry, and
Research. The activities feed directly into fulfilling the results, as well as USAIDs higher-level
intermediate results and overall strategic objective. The following is a brief summary of each
component and its relationship with the project.
1.2a

Support to the Public Sector

The project supports activities within the MDSP, Forest Superintendency, and select
municipalities. Using counterpart funds from PL480, the project also assists with activities of the
National Agrarian Reform Institute (INRA). The purpose of these activities is to carry out key
functions and strengthen the responsible institutions in order to consolidate the forestry model.
Activities at the ministerial level include the identification of state-held lands for forest

CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

concessions, identification of the Municipal Forestry Areas (AFRMs) and recognition of local
social groups known as ASLs. With the Forest Superintendency, BOLFOR support directly
targets the processes and systems required to control the informal sector, monitor deforestation,
prevent and control forest fires, and other key functions. Support to municipalities seeks to
strengthen and increase their role in promoting and controlling forestry activities in the
geographical area where they take place. Finally, activities of the National Agrarian Reform
Institute have the purpose of sanitizing land rights on forest lands, including areas held by
indigenous peoples, forest concessions, private landholdings, and other forms of tenure.
1.2b

Community Forestry

The project supports approximately 40 community groups, including indigenous territories

(TCOs) and local social groups (ASLs) in their forest management activities. This includes: 1)
support to their efforts to organize for participative and transparent decision making and
distribution of benefits; 2) technical assistance for the development of forest management tools
and human resource capabilities; 3) training in administration and financial controls; and 4) most
importantly, support to develop their entrepreneurial capacity including production and
marketing. All activities will promote and support the certification of community forest
management activities.
1.2c

Research

The Forestry Research Unit focuses on a few key areas that provide information to verify or
modify the basic assumptions behind the new forestry legislation. These include minimum
diameter limits, cutting cycles, protected areas within management units, and the percent of
mature trees left in order to assure future harvest levels. CIFOR strengthens the research program
by embarking on Adaptive Co-Management research activities in coordination with project
beneficiary groups.

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QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL 1 JUNE 30, 2003

SECTION II

Highlights
This progress report covering the second quarter of 2003 highlights the achievement of targets
for 15 of the 30 results in the technical assistance contract. In many cases, contract targets have
been surpassed. Progress reported on the other half of the indicators is between 50 and 90
percent.
Up to now, information to report on progress toward indicators has been mainly obtained from
records kept by BOLFOR staff in the course of daily activities in each area. The Project did not
have a system for gathering information beyond the coverage and scope of our own work.
Therefore, overall achievements were not always reported within the framework of the entire
Bolivian Forestry Regime. Now that BOLFOR approaches its closure, additional efforts are
being undertaken in this regard so that reports show the actual extent of the Projects
achievements and impacts.
In some areas, to demonstrate fulfillment of results reports are being finalized and documents are
being revised and presented (especially in regard to research). In other cases, work is still in
progress (e.g. land titling and forest certification).
The first quarterly report for 2003 reflected the new schedule of indicators within the context of
Amendment #16. Special emphasis was placed on the logical sequence of indicators, where
achievement of one leads to achievement of others. For example, granting concessions to Local
Social Groups (#7) first requires that Municipal Forest Reserve Areas (#2) be established, which
requires sanitizing land tenure on state-held forestlands (#1). Other examples are:

Controlling land clearing (#10) partly depends on having a satellite-based monitoring

system (#9).

Strengthening Municipal Forestry Units (#13) depends on priorizing the forest sector
in Municipal Operational Plans (#15), which in turn depends on support of municipal
associations (#14).

Exports by community groups (#25) depend on strengthening community forest

enterprises (#17 and #21).

Exports of certified products (#24) depend on the area of certified forests (#22). Both
indicators depend, as well, on review and approval of certification standards (#23).
BOLFOR is particularly concerned about consolidating land rights in forest areas. Clear land
tenure is extremely important to foster sustainable management of natural resources in general
and forests in particular. It is worth mentioning that Project activities are not intended to support
any specific type of property or concession holding at the expense of other types of users. Instead

CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

our purpose is to help establish land tenure with sufficient clarity and stability in order to foster
good management of natural resources.
Key indicators are being achieved, such as #16, #19, and #22 related to areas under management
by ASL and TCO and certification, respectively, due mostly to tenure security the Bolivian State
has been able to achieve in forest lands. However, the Bolivian Forestry Regime must grow at a
faster pace in the future based on new areas with established forest use rights.
Fortunately, certification standards allow certifying concessions and other properties before
having sanitized land titles. Interested parties need only to show that there are no tenure conflicts
over the area. With this clarified by the certifying body, BOLFOR anticipates completion of
indicator #22 and expects to surpass the goal of 1.3 million hectares under the green label.
Another threat faced by the sector in the short-term was the return of large numbers of
concessions due to lack of financial capability to pay area-based forest use fees (stumpage fees).
Up until now, these payments were based on the total area under concession. However, analyses
undertaken in coordination with the Ministry of Sustainable Development showed that the fees
should be based on the area harvested each year and other mechanisms should be identified to
obtain additional revenue to finance the operations of the Forest Superintendency. Based on
these analyses carried out by Dr. Preston S. Pattie and Lic. Patricia Rojas, as well as the legal
proposals developed by Dr. Antonio Andaluz, the Government of Bolivia promulgated a
Presidential Decree resolving the manner in which stumpage fees are to be applied within the
framework of the Forestry Law.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of this measure achieved with BOLFOR support, since
the alternative was to return or revert forest concessions, which could not be transferred to other
interested parties due to the accumulated debt and new amounts accruing every four months.
Develop of policies favoring development of the forest sector were facilitated by the nomination
of the new Vice-Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Lic. Mara Nella Curi. Other
initiatives that progressed during this second quarter include:

Development of an Integral Sustainable Development Program for the Bolivian

Amazon which will be presented at the Paris Club meeting in October of this year.
This project profile was developed by request of the Minister of Sustainable
Development, Lic. Moira Paz Estenssoro. Consultants that contributed to this paper
were: Lic. Ovidio Roca, Ing. John Nittler, Ing. Miguel Rojas, Dr. James Riordan, Lic.
Ramiro Miranda, Dr. Juan Carlos Chvez, and Dr. Preston S. Pattie.

Proposals to extend the Forestry Regime to state-held forestlands based on

communities, Brazil Nut management units, municipal forest areas, and new
concessions. This effort is under way and led by Dr. Erwin Aguilera and Ing. Freddy
Contreras, in coordination with the Bolivian Society for Environmental Law
represented by Dr. Ricardo Saucedo and Dr. Diego Gutirrez.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

Proposal to resolve land-use conflicts and establish the framework to control land
clearing, with participation of Dr. Antonio Andaluz, Ing. Ignacio Martnez, and Dr.
Preston Pattie.
Counterpart funds from the Bolivian Government, through the PL480 Program, were effectively
used to carry out the first two studies. The scheduling of these resources is done by BOLFOR
administration, led by Lic. Martha Elena Burgos, with support of our coordinator in La Paz Ing.
Marco Gmez. Four-month progress reports, in compliance with a Letter-of-Agreement among
the MDS, PL480 and Chemonics, are prepared by Lic. Stephen Rosholt.
The model for organizing civil society representing the forest sector was extended to Tarija with
formation of four Municipal Forestry Committees. Lic. Ricardo Roca, USAID CTO for
BOLFOR, pointed out that the presence of these committees is being felt in places such as
Concepcin and San Matas.
Community forest enterprises have worked their forests successfully, reaching sales of over
$100,000 in some communities. Such is the case of the Yuqui, where our expert, Ing. Ral Lobo,
has been instrumental in achieving an organizational agreement between families and
communities leading to success in forestry and commercial operations. Other cases worth
mentioning are the communities in Guarayos where the regional office team, led by Alberto
Claros, provided support to overcome hurdles and sell timber to industries.
The Community Forestry Unit, led by Lic. Hugo Franck, supported community forest enterprises
in developing manuals and in implementing administrative procedures. Both topics were
addressed through participatory workshops, training events, and direct advice to administrative
representatives during their activities.
As part of administrative procedures, use of forms for internal control and implementation of
accounting systems were the most relevant topics. Also, budget development and operational
cost analysis to negotiate sale prices were tasks undertaken in depth. This aspect becomes a
crucial point to the extent that prices show a decreasing trend in local markets and the need for
competitiveness becomes more evident.
Additionally, support has been provided to promote timber supply of community forest
enterprises and identification of potential new customers. For the Ixiamas region, where the
presence of service providers and timber buyers was almost nil, agreements and alliances have
been promoted with community forest enterprises. This has led three companies to install their
milling facilities and transport equipment in the area.
In order to increase technical capacity in forest management, a module-based training program
has been develop to train forestry auxiliaries, focused mainly on members of ASL and TCO.
Training, reinforcement and updating in forest management for technicians and professionals
included six workshops. Beneficiary institutions were mainly Municipal Forestry Units and
universities in Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and Cochabamba.

HIGHLIGHTS

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Dr. Marielos Pea presented a paper on the Effect of Silvicultural Treatments on Regeneration
and Growth of Bolivian Forests, at a meeting organized by the Association of Tropical Biology
and Conservation and the British Ecological Society in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Bolivian Forest Research Institute (IBIF in Spanish) was legally incorporated and is ready to
start functioning officially. The IBIF Board of Directors, together with a consultant hired by
FMT/BOLFOR Ms. Norissa Giangola, developed a strategic plan for the Institute. This includes
a take-off plan which defines priority actions to be taken before BOLFOR closes. Also, a
marketing expert, Ms. Yulenka Casso, was contracted to start on the institutional development of
IBIF.
The research center located near Concepcin was officially inaugurated with the attendance of
IBIF Board of Directors, guests from the forest sector, representatives of the Ministry of
Sustainable Development, the press, as well as the owner Mr. Paul Rosenbaum.
Dr. Jack Putz and Dr. Todd Fredericksen were in Bolivia. Visits were undertaken to centers
established within the research plot network (La Chonta and INPA), as well as to Salvatierra.
During this visit, follow-up was provided for the different research projects that are underway.
Also, discussions were held on IBIFs future, potential ways for cooperation, and different
options to develop research proposals. Dr. Fredericksen prepared reports on minimum cutting
diameters and harvest cycles, based on an analysis conducted by Dr. Erhard Dauber. Two
workshops were organized to present preliminary versions of these reports to a group of 25
people from different institutions (including the Cmara Forestal de Bolivia, CFV, SmartWood,
and timber companies).
Finally, some of our staff carried out consultancies in other countries: Ing. Freddy Contreras was
in Peru and Ing. Jos Ledezma visited Guatemala. We believe that projecting the BOLFOR
experience to other countries is very positive.

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SECTION III

Progress
In this section, progress is stated toward each of the 30 results in the technical assistance contract
between USAID and Chemonics International Inc., followed by a narrative description of major
activities and information providing more complete context.
3.1

Ministry of Sustainable Development

Result Indicator #1:

The MDSP, with the support of INRA, completes identification of 4

million hectares of available fiscal land for forest concessions either
for ASLs, conversion of barracas to NTFP concessions, or new
industrial concessions.

Status as of previous report: 1,976,057 hectares.

Current status: Unchanged.

In the previous report it was stated that on March 31 there were 708,176 hectares with sanitized
land tenure in forest areas for new concessions (AFL) and 1.267,881 hectares with sanitized
tenure in state-held forestlands for Municipal Forest Areas, thus reaching 50 percent of this goal.
We anticipate reaching 4 million hectares of state-held lands available for new concessions when
the following areas are completed:

Pando, Riberalta and Robor: 1,800,000 hectares in process of technical and legal
assessment

San Miguel and San Ignacio: 300,000 hectares in final resolution phase.
Presidential Decree 26075 of February 2001 defines 41,235,487 hectares as permanent
production forestlands. With support from BOLFOR, a team was hired to backstop INRA in
carrying out titling processes. Polygons were defined on 34,688,868 hectares, or 70 percent of
permanent production forestlands. By the end of 2003 INRA anticipates sanitizing tenure on
12,232,906 hectares of forestlands, which will be distributed among indigenous communities
(TCO), municipal forest reserve areas for local social groups (ASL), private properties and forest
concessions.
To date 6,434,572 hectares of forestlands have sanitized land tenure. BOLFORs contribution to
this process is carried out mainly through counterpart funds from PL480. BOLFOR provided
direct support to sanitizing 80 percent of this area, or over 5 million hectares. The following table
shows the details:

CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Sanitized Lands with BOLFOR Support up to 2003

Superficie (ha.)
133.857

Clasificacin
Predios Particulares

30.208
568.260
138.234
1.700.663
2.714.098

Asentamientos humanos (Ixiamas)

Parque Nacional MADIDI
ANMISM San Matas
Concesiones Forestales (en vigencia)
Tierra Fiscal

5.285.320

TOTAL

It should be pointed out that, although the intent of financing INRA was to sanitize forestlands
mainly in state-held areas, due to the processes followed by INRA all owners within a polygon
have benefited, thus contributing significantly to the national goal of sanitizing all land in
Bolivia.

Result Indicator #2:

MDSP, with the support of INRA, completes definition and

delimitation of municipal forest reserves in 12 municipalities.

Status as of previous report: 6 municipalities with 681,765 ha in AFRM..

Current status: Unchanged.

Certificates have been granted specifying sanitized rights in Municipal Forest Areas requested by
eight municipalities. In the first six (see table) the areas have been recognized by the MDS.
Municipalities with Designated Municipal Forest Areas
No.

Municipio

Departamento

Estado de la AFRM

Concepcin

Santa Cruz

San Ignacio

Santa Cruz

San Rafael

Santa Cruz

AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 139/2001

AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 137/2001
y 138/2001
AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 142/2001
y 143/2001

San Jos

Santa Cruz

AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 141/2001

Robor

Santa Cruz

AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 140/2001

Ixiamas

La Paz

AFRM otorgada con Res. Adm. MDSP No. 158/2001

Fuente: INRA J.L. Delgado

The two additional municipalities with lands for forest reserves sanitized and awaiting official
acknowledgement are Santa Rosa del Sara and Yapacan. Work is underway on sanitizing forest
areas in eight additional municipalities.

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Municipalities in process of Incorporating Municipal Forest Areas

Municipio

Departamento

Estado de Saneamiento

San Buena Ventura

La Paz

SAN SIM- Resoluciones Finales

Villa Nueva

Pando

SAN SIM-Evaluacin Tcnica Jurdica

Santos Mercado

Pando

SAN SIM-Evaluacin Tcnica Jurdica

Santa Rosa

Santa Cruz

SANEADA-Resoluciones Finales

Yapacan

Santa Cruz

SANEADA-RA SS N 0494/02

San Miguel

Santa Cruz

SAN SIM- Resoluciones Finales

San Carlos

Santa Cruz

Resoluciones Finales

Puerto Surez

Santa Cruz

Pericias de Campo

Riberalta

Beni

Pericias de Campo

El Sena

Pando

Pericias de Campo

As seen in the table, during this quarter four municipalities were added with land tenure
sanitizing processes in their reserve areas: San Carlos, Puerto Surez, Riberalta, and El Sena.

Result Indicator #3:

MDSP, with the support of INRA, completes certification that all

concessions in existence at the end of the contract are state-held
lands, free of claims by others.

Status as of previous report: 33 of 86 current concessions reaching 38%.

Current status: 34 of 86 current concessions have been sanitized reaching 40%.

During this second quarter, the 34th concession was added as sanitized by INRA: Bosques del
Norte in La Paz. The process will continue in new areas using GOB counterpart funds, through
PL480 up to the end of 2003.
In addition to the 34 sanitized concessions, 21 other concessions are in process. We estimate that
these concessions will receive their final resolutions from INRA toward the end of 2003. Other
concessions are totally or partially within TCO and operate without land-tenure conflicts.
However, sanitizing processes and TCO claims take longer to be resolved because of the
presence of other actors, especially private land-owners.

PROGRESS

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Result Indicator #4:

The Direccin General de Desarrollo Forestal Sostenible (DGDFS)

develops the capacity to evaluate, formulate, and propose forestry
policies, regulations, and technical norms in response to the needs of
the sector.

Status as of previous report: The resolution was suspended. Meanwhile BOLFOR is

responding to request by the Government to placing the forest sector among national
development priorities.
Current status: Forest use fees have been regulated. Completed.

Concessionaires and other forest operators face the dilemma of: 1) paying forest-use fees
(stumpage fees) or 2) sustainably managing forest resources. They cannot accomplish both
objectives at the same time. This conclusion was reached upon analyzing information on
harvested volumes and log prices that led to estimates of gross income of the primary forest
sector in 2001 and 2002. The capacity of the primary forest sector to pay stumpage fees is
limited due to depressed prices and limited harvested volumes, both resulting from the lack of
demand compared to timber supply. The primary forest sector produces raw materials valued at
approximately $20 million. This amount represents the total gross income of the industry in its
primary phase (taking into account only timber products in lands under forest management, not
timber from land clearing or non-timber products such as Brazil Nut).
With this total income, forest operators are supposed to finance forest management,
administrative expenses, as well as timber harvest and transport. It does not allow for payments
of stumpage fees at the levels required by the Forest Superintendency. Therefore, the need arose
to regulate forest-use fees within the framework of the law, but reaching a feasible solution.
The analysis was presented on several occasions to the GOB, to representatives of ASL, to the
Cmara Forestal de Bolivia, the Forest Superintendency, and others. A total of 500 copies of two
documents published on this topic were distributed. Advice was provided to the MDS on several
alternatives, until an acceptable option was found for presentation to the executive branch of
government.
Eventually, the President approved the modification through Presidential Decree N. 27024. Then
the Forest Superintendency issued an administrative resolution including the new form of forestuse fee and introducing a Regulation Fee. The process for disseminating these measures will
continue for several months.
During this quarter contributions by several consultants to the Integral Sustainable Development
Program for Bolivias Amazon were received. The document will soon be presented to officials
of the executive and legislative branches. We anticipate that this document will be presented by
the GOB at the meetings with international cooperation agencies in October.
A draft for a presidential decree was prepared on Brazil Nut harvesting areas which will regulate
the concept of traditional user, acknowledging access to forest concessions. This process is at the
dissemination stage and has been submitted to representatives of the executive and legislative
branches of government, international cooperation agencies, the Catholic Church, and regional
authorities.

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A series of proposals is being developed to formulate policies to consolidate forest rights in

state-held lands. The consulting group is visiting several municipalities in order to verify the
feasibility and acceptation of the proposals.

Result Indicator #5:

DGDFS will have completed forest classification and established a

process for determining referential price data.

Status as of previous report: Policy recommendations ready for presentation to MDS.

Current status: Recommendations presented to the MDS.

The law establishes the need for land classification, but does not specify what actions should be
taken based on that classification. In fact, classifications are made based on Land Use Plans for
each department. Soon Municipal Governments will be developing Land Use Plans. However,
again the scope of these instruments to restrict land use by private landowners is not defined.
BOLFOR is contributing in the formulation of concepts and policies on this topic.
A proposal has been prepared to clarify the scope of authority of the Forest Superintendency and
the Agrarian Superintendency, including a proposal to make Municipal Land Use Plans and
Departmental Land Use Plans compatible. This proposal is in its initial stage and has to be
disseminated to some stakeholders. The Vice-ministry held an initial meeting with the Forest
Superintendency and the Agrarian Superintendency with BOLFOR support.
Regarding the topic of referential prices BOLFOR carried out an analysis, commissioned by the
MDS, based on the best available information. It was shown that as the forest management
model is accepted and applied, a trend emerges to use a wide range of lesser known and lower
priced timber species, compared to traditional valuable species. Therefore, the average value or
price of timber in the market tends to decrease, and not to increase as projected when Technical
Standard #248 was developed.
Thus and within the framework of the new regulations for the area-based stumpage fee, the
referential price list does not make any sense as a tool to adjust the minimum fee, but remains
relevant as reference data on the timber market at different stages of the production chain.
Therefore, BOLFOR has commissioned a Price Survey of Sawn Timber and Logs, which will be
carried out by CADEFOR. Progress of this project is being reviewed, especially regarding the
database on timber prices in domestic markets.

PROGRESS

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3.2

Forest Superintendency
Result Indicator #6a: BOLFOR will assist the MDSP develop a plan to grant new
concessions using different means, such as granting forest
concessions for collection of non-timber products, transfer of new
concessions through municipalities, and the auctioning of large,
medium and small concession. (Basis of contract #1)
Status as of previous report: Alternatives and actions in process of identification.
Current status: Working document to develop the plan.

A consulting team started work toward this indicator following the program established in the
previous report. The group of consultants presented its framework for action in a meeting with
the Vice-Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Working methods will go beyond
mere recommendations. The team accepted the challenge of approaching actors at different
priority areas in the country to achieve consensus on the actions recommended by the MDS.
A visit was carried out to Federico Romn Province in Pando, in order to open dialogue with the
different actors and establish the best ways to speed-up processes for granting forest-use rights.
Based on these analyses and consultations, the necessary mechanisms will be developed at the
Forest Superintendency to modify forest concession contracts.
Based on the results of land sanitizing in Pando, a working document was prepared to
consolidate forest-use rights in State-held lands through municipalities and concessions that will
be affected by the titling process. This analysis has also served to match the needs of
communities and traditional users. The recommendations in this paper have been instrumental
for the Forest Superintendency to take a more active role in protecting forestlands. We anticipate
that the plan will be presented to the MDS at the end of August.
Result Indicator #6b: The Forest Superintendency will implement the program to carry
out five-year audits of existing concessions.
Status as of previous report: Pending final preparation of audit schedule.
Current status: Completed.

As stated in previous reports, the technical methodology has been prepared to carry out the
audits. However, uncertainty regarding potential return of concessions hindered the execution.
After the concessions adapt to the new regulations for the area-based fee structure, the forest
audits will be undertaken. Some technical details have to be resolved before implementation. We
anticipate that the first audit will be done in San Antonio, in the Chore area.
Result Indicator #7: By the end of 2003, the Forest Superintendency grants at least
30 concessions to ASLs, based on the program of the MDSP.
Status as of previous report: 16 concessions to ASL.
Current status: Unchanged.

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The tables in the previous report remain unchanged (see Appendix 1). Santa Rosa has now a
resolution for sanitizing of state-held lands and has presented amendments to its request for
Municipal Forest Reserve Area to the MDS. The Municipal Council in San Jos de Chiquitos has
approved the concession schedule and, once signed, it will be submitted to the MDS.
Currently, the concession schedules for Concepcin and San Ignacio are at the MDS awaiting
approval; delays have affected four ASL (Puerto Alegre, Guapom, ACIA, and Asa/Porvenir).
The Unidad de Apoyo al Sector Pblico in La Paz has presented the case before the Direccin
General de Asuntos Jurdicos and we expect this process to continue.

Result Indicator #8:

By the end of 2001, the Forest Superintendency will have a

comprehensive strategy to control illegal forest operations and the
strategy will be effectively implemented in the four UOBs supported
by BOLFOR.

Status as of previous report: Document ready for publishing.

Current status: Completed.

A document summarizing the characteristics of illegal operations, as well as the strategy to be

implemented in order to reduce these actions has been published. This is the result of two years
of work field-testing different control systems, especially with the Unidades Operativas de
Bosque supported by BOLFOR, with PL480 funds.
The documented was presented to the Forest Superintendency for internal use and distribution. It
has also served as the basis for discussions at the first national meeting of lawyers working with
the Forest Superintendency.
However, the regime and in particular the Forest Superintendency are facing an increasingly
difficult situation, where pressures from illegally harvested timber are felt in the market. The
costs of companies operating according to the law, managing forest resources in an appropriate
way and paying user fees and taxes, are higher than those of illegal operators. In particular,
community forest enterprises of TCO and ASL that work within the framework of the regime
deserve all possible support.

Result Indicator #9: By the end of 2001, the Forest Superintendency will have a
monitoring system, based on remote sensing, of deforestation in critical areas.
Status as of previous report: Completed.

As a result of the deforestation report, carried out by BOLFOR and based on a study of seven
departments for the 1993-200 period, critical deforestation areas were identified. Apart from the
13 municipalities reported in Santa Cruz, the new list of additional municipalities includes the
following:

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Superficie Deforestada
Departamento

Hectreas

Porcentaje (%)

Rurrenabaque
San Borja

10.619
22.532

5,8
2,3

Riberalta

24.311

1,9

Caranavi
La Asunta

36.270
8 371

13,8
9,1

Chulumani

1 566

5,5

Pando

Capital
Campo Ana

2.782
29.049

19,1
14,0

Tarija

Yacuiba

26.287

7,3

Beni

La Paz

Municipio

Critical areas are municipalities with land clearing rates equal or greater than 5 percent or a total
of 20,000 hectares deforested between 1993 and 2000. In the table above, only municipalities in
the lowlands are shown.

Result Indicator #10: By the end of 2003, the Forest Superintendency will authorize at
least 75 percent of all land clearings (forest conversion) in the
Department of Santa Cruz and northern La Paz.
Status as of previous report: Land clearings authorized will be compared to total land
clearings in critical areas for July 2002-July 2003.
Current status: The process to document progress continues.

Interpretation of satellite images, supplemented by the field inspection system, is allowing

identification of land clearing activities. If these data are compared with information on
approvals, the number of illegal land clearings can be determined.
For 2002, the Forest Superintendency was able to identify 552 land holdings with illegal land
clearings on a total area of 166,095 hectares in the seven municipalities that were prioritized in
the Department of Santa Cruz. To date, 11 percent of the land holdings are involved in legal
cases.
Difficulties to obtain approvals for land clearings within the legal framework and the transaction
costs implied by this process foster a behavior of land clearing first and sit and wait until the
government regularizes the situation some day. Fines for unauthorized land clearing are
extremely low ($0.05 to 0.20 per hectare). Even worse, fines are the same whether land clearing
takes place in lands suitable for agriculture or lands that should remain in forest! In other words,
the norms dont make distinctions between lands classified for specific purposes.
Here the confusion noted on indicator #5 on land classification resurfaces; technical
classification is carried out, but to no avail in terms of land use.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

Result Indicator #11: By the end of 2001, the Forest Superintendency will have a Strategic
Plan for Prevention and Control of Forest Fires, including an early
warning system in place.
Status as of previous report: Completed.

Physical transfer to the Forest Superintendency of all equipment and tools of the Forest Fire
Early Warning System (SATIF in Spanish) was completed. Also, the technical team that worked
on deforestation and forest fires in BOLFOR was incorporated to SATIF. PL480 funds are
assigned to support this activity.

Result Indicator #12: By the end of 2003, at least 80 percent of forest concessions in critical
areas will have operational plans for prevention and control of forest
fires.
Status as of previous report: A map of critical areas has been developed, as well as a list of
concessions within these critical areas.
Current status: Work is being done on the first operational plans

The methodology to develop operational plans for prevention and control of forest fires is ready.
This document was distributed to concessions that are located in critical areas and support has
been provided to develop specific plans. However, only seven of the existing concessions in the
critical area are operating. Therefore, we anticipate having four or five fire prevention and
control plans developed by the end of 2003.
Also, the Forest Superintendency is preparing guidelines to assess and approve the operational
plans, as well as the mechanisms for follow-up.
3.3

Municipal Forestry Units (UFMs)

Result Indicator #13: At the end on 2003, at least 12 UFMs are fully functional and have
developed the capacity to fulfill their legal mandate.
Status as of previous report: 8 of 10 UFMs evaluated comply with their legal mandate. 67%
advance.
Current status: Completed with 116% progress. Fourteen of the 18 UFMs assessed comply
with their legal mandate.

Up until now, information to show progress towards indicators has been obtained mostly from
daily work of BOLFOR staff. The Project has not had a system to gather information beyond the
coverage and scope of its own efforts. Therefore, overall achievement on several areas has not
been reported, such as the case of Municipal Forestry Units (UFM in Spanish).
During this quarter, the evaluation of 18 UFM was completed, of which 14 qualify as units that
fulfill their mandates. In the next quarters assessments of other units will continue. The following
(additional) 8 UFM were assessed during this quarter:

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Santa Rosa and Yapacan in Santa Cruz

Entre Ros, Yacuiba, Carapar, and Villamontes in Tarija
Riberalta and Guayaramern in Beni.
It is worth mentioning that several of these UFM have not received significant support from
BOLFOR. We consider it even more positive to show how the Forestry Regime is growing in the
country without support from projects financed by the GOB and international cooperation
agencies. Thus, we think it is equally, if not more important to report progress on UFM activities
that take place outside BOLFORs range of support.

San Miguel

San Rafae

San Matas

San Jos

Robore

Pto. Surez

Ixiamas

Guarayos

Santa Rosa

Yapacani

Entre Rios

Yacuiba

Carapari

Villamontes

Guayaramern

Riberalta

La UFM est formada y en

funcionamiento con personal tcnico
La UFM cuenta con archivos y registros
organizados
La UFM cuenta con un Plan de Trabajo
Anual y con presupuesto afn
La UFM presta asistencia tcnica a las
empresas forestales comunitarias
RESULTADO

San Ignacio

CRITERIOS

Concepcin

Resumen de Puntajes por Unidades Forestales Municipales

Fuente: Eber Menacho, Robert Keating, Javier Collao, Adhemar Mendieta

The assessment is based on Annual Operational Plans of the evaluated UFM and also on annual
reports of activities presented by UFM to the Forest Superintendency.

Result Indicator #14: BOLFOR will assist organizations supporting municipalities develop
technical and financial capacity to help UFMs carry out their legal
mandates.
Status as of previous report: Completed

Municipal Forestry Committees have been formed to represent the private forest sector, at the
municipal level, before local or central government in 18 municipalities in Santa Cruz. In
coordination with the Association of Municipalities from Tarija (AMT), the municipalities of
Carapar, Yacuiba, Villamontes, and Entre Ros have identified the different demands of the
forest sector in their jurisdictions.
The process to consolidate municipal forestry committees in Santa Cruz continues. An
experienced professional has been incorporated to the association of municipalities in order to
develop projects to support more effectively the demands of the forest sector at the municipal

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

level. It is anticipated that during the next quarter workshops will be carried out to identify the
demands of the forest sector in four municipalities with the Association of Municipalities in
Pando.
The agreement with the Center for Intermediate Technology (CEDETI in Spanish) is being
implemented through support to the municipality in Yapacan to fulfill its mandate under the
Forestry Law.

Result Indicator #15: At the end of 2002, 12 municipalities have succeeded in

incorporating forestry in their Annual Operational Plans and
budgets.
Status as of previous report: Based on the modified indicator, information will be gathered in
additional municipalities.
Current status: Completed.

Again, previous reports were limited to information obtained within the framework of Project
efforts. With the initiative to work with municipal associations, the scope of contacts and the
potential for acquiring additional information has increased. Therefore, reporting on this
indicator has widened. According to operational plans obtained, revised, and documented, the
following municipalities have incorporated forestry in their annual plans and budgets:
1. Concepcin
2. Puerto Surez
3. Robor
4. San Ignacio
5. San Jos
6. San Matas
7. San Miguel

8. San Rafael
9. Santa Rosa
10. San Javier
11. Guarayos
12. San Carlos
13. Carapar

With additional efforts to obtain and document information for project files, we are sure to report
further achievements which will surpass, by far, the established goals.
In fact, the role of municipalities is becoming increasingly important within the framework of the
Forestry Regime. Compliance of many functions such as land sanitizing, monitoring
deforestation, forest fire control and prevention, controlling illegal operations, land-use planning,
conflict resolution, and others are more feasible with the decided involvement of municipalities.
Therefore, we believe that support to Municipal Forestry Committees should be a priority for
future programs.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

3.4

Local Social Groups (Agrupaciones Sociales del Lugar or ASL)

Result Indicator #16: By end of 2003, at least 750,000 hectares of forest are managed by
ASLs. (Basis for contract # 2).
Status as of previous report: 916,252 hectares.
Current status: Completed.

New ASL are facing hurdles in the process of assuming management of forests due to the lack of
definition of Municipal Forest Reserve Areas, lack of financial resources to begin developing
management plans, or due to the low timber potential of some of the available areas.
Despite the obstacles, the area under management by ASL is surpassing the target which was
already achieved the previous quarter. The ASL 25 de Octubre is developing its first operational
plan for a 20,000-hectare concession. It is expected that before the year ends two other ASL in
San Matas will also comply with this requirement on an additional area of 35,000 hectares.

Result Indicator #17: By the end of 2003, 10 ASLs have developed increased
organizational, administrative, and entrepreneurial capacity.
Status as of previous report: Six ASL have achieved a satisfactory level of entrepreneurial
capacity
Current status: Nine ASL have reached the A level of entrepreneurial quality.

With the improvement in administrative procedures and implementation of operational manuals,

we consider that the quality of business management in ASL has improved. Therefore, the
number of ASL in the A level has increased to nine, with three more enterprises added to the
list in the last quarter.
Seven ASL remain at the B level of management quality. At the C level there are 13 ASL
mainly because they have not started timber harvesting. However several of them have received
training to implement suitable administrative and forest management procedures as soon as they
find customers and start harvesting operations.
IXIAMAS

VELASCO

CHIQUITOS

SARA

TOTAL

NIVEL "A"

NIVEL "B"

NIVEL "C"
TOTAL

13

12

29

In the next quarter we expect that al least three ASL will reach the A level, which would mean
that this result has been completed. For this, BOLFOR has insisted on the use of accounting
systems, control forms, management reports, planning processes, and self-evaluation, among
other tools.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

Result Indicator #18: Through the end of 2003, BOLFOR continues to promote
certification of ASL operations.
Status as of previous report: Several ASL are interested in certification. Completed.

Several ASL have expressed their interest in forest certification. However, there are some
prerequisites to start this process, such as identifying markets and finding customers, increasing
quality of business management and, in some cases, resolution of land tenure issues.
During this quarter, the ASL Asa has signed a sales contract for five years, with the commitment
to be certified by 2004. The customer, San Luis, will pay all certification expenses and will
provide technical support.

3.5

Indigenous Groups (Tierras Comunitarias de Origen or TCO)

Result Indicator #19: By the end of 2003, at least 600,000 hectares of forest are managed
by community forestry operations in TCOs. (Basis of contract # 3)
Status as of previous report: Completed with 723,117 hectares.

A total of 27 Indigenous Forestry Units in 13 TCO have been incorporated in the Bolivian
Forestry Regime. These units have completed the following management tools: 18 forest
management plans and 9 annual forest operating plans in anticipation of a forest management
plan. Half of these units have had direct support from BOLFOR to develop these forest planning
tools. A total of 723,114 hectares are currently under indigenous management and the result has
therefore been achieved.
Result Indicator #20: Through the end of 2003, BOLFOR continues to promote
certification among TCOs.
Status as of previous report: The final assessment of TCO Yuqui was undertaken and we
expect prompt certification by the FSC. Three additional TCO have expressed interest in
certification. Completed.

The Bolivian Council for Voluntary Forest Certification (CFV in Spanish) organized an interinstitutional workshop to analyze the feasibility of certifying community forest enterprises.
Resulting from the event, a strategy was developed to promote certification at the level of
community enterprises.
The scoping report of the Yuqui TCO recommends adjustments in some activities in order to
obtain the certificate, such as establishing a control system for the area and collecting seed of
timber species. To comply with these recommendations, a work plan has been developed
together with WWF and CETEFOR, based on which we anticipate the Yuqui will obtain the FSC
certificate by the end of this year.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Training workshops on certification have been carried out with the Indigenous Forestry Units in
Curur and Salvatierra (Guarayos TCO) and San Pedro (Tacana TCO). As a result, next August
scoping exercises will be undertaken, in coordination with WWF and CFV. In the ensuing
months, certification will be promoted with the Indigenous Forestry Units APIAT and
AGROFORT of the Tacana TCO.

Result Indicator #21: At least eight indigenous forestry units are strengthened in
organizational management and forest issues and are successfully
operating.
Status as of previous report: Seven Indigenous Forestry Units (IFU) have been strengthened.
Current status: Eight Indigenous Forestry Units with appropriate management capacity.
Completed.

The assessment carried out in this second quarter shows that eight Indigenous Forestry Units are
appropriately organized and have capacity for management. Outstanding among these are San
Pedro, APIAT and AGROFORT of the Tacana TCO; Santa Mara, Curur and Salvatierra of the
Guarayos TCO; and the Yuqui TCO.
The forestry units in Lomero, Yota, AIFU, and CIBAPA have not carried out harvesting
operations this year. However, they have sufficient capacity to operate efficiently and just need
to develop new operational plans and identify buyers.

3.6 Certification
Result Indicator #22: By the end of 2003, certified forest area increases to 1.3 million
hectares. (Basis of contract # 4.)
Status as of previous report: 983,263 ha.
Current status: Unchanged.

The certificates for the concessions Selva Negra (Pando) and Marabol (Santa Cruz) will be
granted the first week of July. The only pending requisite is final approval from Forest
Stewardship Council headquarters. The bulk of the certifying effort has already been carried out
in Bolivia. According to the certifier, the certified area in Bolivia will increase by 140,000
hectares.
Field assessments of forest management operations of the companies INFORCASA (holder of 3
forest concessions) and CIMAGRO (holder of 3 concessions) in Pando have started and reports
are expected for the end of August. All six concessions represent an area over 600,000 hectares.
Aside from the above concessions in process of certification, CFV has announced a formal
certification evaluation by SmartWood of the San Jos concession (60,000 ha) located in San
Jos de Chiquitos.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

Also, the firm SOBOLMA has obtained chain-of-custody certification. This achievement will be
used as a strategy to promote certification among community groups in the Guarayos TCO that
has commercial dealings with SOBOLMA.
The factor that has limited progress in this area has been land tenure. Thanks to a recent decision
by SmartWood, certification procedures can take place in areas free of conflicts, even if the
sanitizing process has not been finalized.
Result Indicator #23: Bolivian certification standards are presented to FSC for timber and
non-timber forest products.
Status as of previous report: Completed.

The process of reviewing standards for timber-product certification continues. To date, nine
meetings have taken place which were attended by a group of professionals from the public and
private sector. This process is led by the Bolivian Council for Voluntary Forest Certification
(CFV).
In order to increase its capability in terms of promoting and monitoring certification processes,
the CFV will participate in the final assessment to certify CIMAGRO. The Bolivian Council for
Voluntary Forest Certification also participated in the information and training workshops on
forest management and certification progress that took place in Curur and Salvatierra, in
Guarayos.
3.7

Forest Product Development and Marketing

Result Indicator #24: The value of certified forest products continues to increase on a
yearly basis.
Status as of previous report: Next evaluation pending for 2003.
Current status: Pending evaluation.

At the end of this year, CADEFOR will carry out a survey to establish the tendencies of certified
timber product exports. However, to date it is estimated that the trend towards an increase
remains unaltered. Main indicators for this are the sales contracts such as the one signed by
Industrias del Mueble Roda (IMR) with the French supermarket chain CARREFOUR, as well as
new forest concessions in process of certification that will augment supply in the short term.

Result Indicator #25: At least eight community forestry enterprises export forest products
directly or through intermediaries.
Status as of previous report: 7 community forest enterprises export forest products directly or
through intermediaries.
Current status: 12 community forest enterprises export through intermediaries. Completed.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Major timber exporting companies are not precisely the same concessionaires in charge of
forestlands, and therefore depend on fluctuations in raw material supply in local markets. Most
community forest enterprises are part of this market indirectly, through primary transformation
industries, mainly sawmills and veneer manufacturers that buy logs from them.
Following the production chain shows that at least 12 community enterprises are suppliers for
exporting companies; notably among them are United Furniture in La Paz, UTD in Cochabamba,
and FOBOL in Santa Cruz. The main timber species in demand are not only valuable species
such as morado, roble, and cedro, but alternative timber species such as ocho, yesquero, mara
macho, and soto.
Also, the importance of the Chiquitana region importance is increasing as a source of forks of
morado, cedro, and roble. This piece, where the main stem bifurcates, used to be discarded in the
forest, but is currently used for veneer manufacturing due to its attractive wood-grain.
Community Enterprises that Export Direct or Indirectly
No

Nombre de la
Agrupacin

Departamento

Municipio

Especie
Madera

Producto
Vendido por la
EFC

Empresa
Compradora

Productos Exportados

Pas
Destino

TCO Santa Mara

SCZ

Guarayos

Yesquero

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Santa Mara

SCZ

Guarayos

Ocho

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Curur

SCZ

Guarayos

Yesquero

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Curur

SCZ

Guarayos

Ocho

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Curur

SCZ

Guarayos

Bibosi

Troncas

Gillet

Piezas y partes

EEUU
Italia

TCO Salvatierra

SCZ

Guarayos

Yesquero

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Salvatierra

SCZ

Guarayos

Ocho

Troncas

United Furniture

Sillas y Muebles en Gral.

EEUU

TCO Salvatierra

SCZ

Guarayos

Bibosi

Troncas

Gillet

Piezas y partes

EEUU
Italia

ASL Robor

SCZ

Chiquitos

Madera Aserrada

Maderal Export
Import

Madera aserrada

Paraguay

ASL Robor

SCZ

Chiquitos

Madera Aserrada

Espen

Madera Aserrada

Alemania

ASL Robor

SCZ

Chiquitos

Roble

Palca

FOBOL

Laminados

Europa

TCO San Pedro

LPZ

Ixiamas

Maramacho

Tronca

UTD

Puertas

EEUU
EEUU
EEUU

Morado y
Quina Quina
Morado y
Jichituriqui

ASL Copacabana

LPZ

Ixiamas

Maramacho

Madera Aserrada

SALI

Puertas y muebles de
cocina

ASL 7 Palmas

LPZ

Ixiamas

Cedro

Tronca

UTD

Puertas

ASL Candelaria

LPZ

Ixiamas

Cedro

Tronca

UTD

Puertas

EEUU

ASL Caoba

LPZ

Ixiamas

Cedroy
Maramacho

Tronca

UTD

Puertas

EEUU

10

ASL El Cedro

SCZ

Velasco

Soto

Troncas

EMPRODUR

Durmientes

Per

11

ASL El Boqu

SCZ

Velasco

Roble

Palca

FOBOL

Laminados

Europa

12

ASL El Tun

SCZ

Velasco

Roble

Palca

FOBOL

Laminados

Europa

Fuente: CADEFOR-2003 H. .Franck-BOLFOR

Result Indicator #26: At least three ASLs/TCOs enter into strategic alliances with industrial
forestry operators to improve their forestry operations and income.
Current status: Eliminated.

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

3.8

Research
Result Indicator #27: Four critical best management practices in the new Forestry
Regulations are confirmed or modified based on the results of
BOLFOR research. These practices will include minimum cutting
diameters, retention of seed trees, cutting cycles, and the designation
of reserve areas within harvested forests. (Basis of contract #5.)
Status as of previous report: Workshops undertaken and documents completed on seed trees
and reserve areas.
Current status: 2 practices revised (50% progress).

Two reports with recommendations to modify the technical standards regarding retention of seed
trees and protected areas within concessions were published. The reports are split in two
sections, the first consists of a review of existing literature and the second provides
recommendations. These documents will be formally presented to the Ministry of Sustainable
Development and the Forest Superintendency in the ensuing weeks. Also, the results of an
analysis of the effect on harvested volumes of leaving a percentage of seed trees will be
presented, differentiating by species and type of forest. This analysis will be an important step
towards applying the recommendations provided in the report on seed trees, since it will show
the effect of these recommendations on management practices. This type of analysis could result
in application of recommendations even before they are officially incorporated in the technical
standards.
Result Indicator #28: Concrete and measurable increases occur in the efficiency of
Bolivian forestry operations based on the results of BOLFOR
research on forest management planning, improved harvesting and
extraction methods, increased regeneration and production, and
stand improvement due to the adoption of silvicultural treatments.
Status as of previous report: At least two case studies are planned for 2003.
Current status: Studies underway.

Progress on the two case studies that will be carried out for this indicator is as follows:
1. For the case study of INPA, methodology is being developed and it will be presented
shortly.
2. The study on the effects of adopting two silvicultural practices (marking trees for future
harvest and liana cutting) based on the large scale plots established in La Chonta is in
progress. Data on growth of trees for future harvest of five commercial species have been
analyzed, as well as the efficiency of silvicultural treatments to increase growth and
decrease damage during harvest. Costs and benefits of silvicultural treatments will be
calculated based on a financial model that takes into account the length of cutting cycles
(30 years).

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. PROYECTO BOLFOR

Result Indicator #29: BOLFOR research in community forestry provides orientation for
forest management of social groups and is used as the basis of
making forestry decisions. BOLFOR will provide this support
through research in adaptive co-management facilitated by CIFOR
and UF/FMT.
Status as of previous report: First case study in process.
Current status: One of the studies is ready for publishing.

The case study on impacts of participatory research in Guarayos entitled Gender, Participation
and the Strengthening of Indigenous Forest Management in Bolivia is ready for publishing. The
Spanish version is being translated and will be disseminated to interested institutions.
The second case study entitled Forestera Comunitaria en Guarayos: los Casos de Curur y
Salvatierra is under revision and will be finished in September. Results of a final survey are
being incorporated, in which the distribution of benefits obtained in timber harvesting over the
years are assessed.
We anticipate meeting this target once the second case study is published in September.
Result Indicator #30: BOLFORs research activities will be used as an input for the
development of a national forestry research strategy.
Status as of previous report: The Institute was created and work began in Pando to establish
the third field site. Preparations are underway for the second National Meeting on Forest
Research.
Current status: Funding project for research presented by the MDS to ITTO.

The national forest research strategy will specifically focus on forest monitoring through a
permanent plot network. Therefore, BOLFORs commitment is to establish this network of plots
and leave an institutional framework to ensure maintenance of this important basis for future
forest research.
The second national meeting on forest research to take place in Cochabamba on August 11
through 13 has had a great response among interested participants, with 140 people registered
and approximately 70 papers submitted. In coordination with the SIFORBOL project,
arrangements are being made for the roundtable on the permanent plot network. We anticipate
that a work group will be formed that will serve to coordinate and promote the establishment of
research plots in the different eco-regions of the country.
Complying with the take-off plan for the Bolivian Forest Research Institute (IBIF), this
institution has carried out the following activities:
a. The draft for the Strategic Plan was finalized and will be submitted to the Board of Directors
on the second part of August. The plan was developed and then reviewed by scientists
collaborating with the Institute. Main considerations are the following:

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CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

1.
2.
3.
4.

Focus at the level of objectives, activities, and strategic partners.

Roles of actors with proper definition of responsibilities.
Budget for take-off.
Wide ranging take-off plan and clarity in terms of goals and responsibilities.

b. Incorporation. IBIF was legally incorporated as a non-profit organization through Resolution

No. 178/2003.
c. ITTO proposal (June 2003) with formal support of the GOB as counterpart through the
Ministry of Sustainable Development.
d. Operational Plan for Research Activities for 2003/2004.
e. Start of institutional development activities.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Formal agreement signed with the Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz (UPSA).
Presentation of IBIF to the O Boticario Foundation for scholarship proposals.
Inauguration of the INPA-Parket/IBIF Research Center on July 2526, 2003.
Announcement UPSA-IBIF on 05/08/03.
Announcement for the competition to develop a logotype.

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III-19

Annex 1
Indicador # 7: Superintendencia Forestal otorga 30 concesiones a ASLs.

A continuacin, se presenta un resumen de las 16 concesiones vigentes entregadas a ASL y que

cubren una superficie de 423.202 hectreas.
Resumen de ASL con Concesiones Otorgadas
Municipio

N de ASL

Superficie

San Rafael

128.718

San Miguel

81.622

San Ignacio

86.582

Ixiamas

126.280

Total

16

423.202

En el siguiente cuadro se muestran los procesos en curso para el reconocimiento de derechos de

concesin a 14 ASL adicionales, con lo que se superara el nmero esperado de 30 concesiones
hasta fines del 2003.
ASL en Proceso de Designacin de Concesiones
Municpio

ASL

Superficie

Requisito para la Aprobacin

Concepcin

Puerto Alegre

19.995

Programa presentado al MDS en proceso de

aprobacin.

San Ignacio

Guapom
Asa/Porvenir
ACIA

147.045

Programa presentado al MDS en proceso de

aprobacin.

La Cuta

Existen problemas con el nombre de una ASL en su

R.M. de calificacin. La direccin jurdica debe
enmendarla.
El municipio debe definir sus AFRM y presentar el
Programa de Concesiones.

Yapacan

Aserradero Yapacan
El Pallar

79.635

San Jos

El Cedro
El Boqu

65.507

El municipio debe presentar el Programa de

Concesiones.

San Rafael

Monte Verde

18.302

La ASL debe presentar su personalidad jurdica para

la calificacin y posteriormente el municipio debe
presentar el Programa de Concesiones.

Santa Rosa del

Sara

Entre Ros
Arroyo Negro
Santa Rosa
Los Tajibos
14

29.560

El municipio debe presentar las enmiendas a la

solicitud de AFRM y posteriormente el Programa de
Concesiones.

Total

Fuente: J. Collao y E. Menacho

360.044