WWFolio Bolivia2nd Edition – June 2005

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Informative publication regarding WWF’s work in Bolivia

Publication printed in 100% recycled paper

In this edition we want to share important changesthat have taken place within the last few months atWWF Bolivia. First, we have merged our actionsinto two main programs: Forests & Amazon andPantanal. Within this framework, in November 2004and January 2005 respectively, two important projectswere initiated: the Project MAP (Madre de Dios –Peru, Acre – Brazil, Pando – Bolivia) processstrengthening, emphasizing Pando and the frontierregion, and formulation of management strategiesfor regional tri-national sustainable development,with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy(for further information on this project, please seesection Living Forests & Amazon in this WWFolioedition); and the Project Supporting Sustainabilityfor Community Forest Holders in Bolivia, funded bythe Swedish cooperation, ASDI, and channeledthrough WWF Sweden.

Also, at the beginning of the year we opened a fieldoffice in Cobija, following up on the opening of two

other field offices in 2004: in Puerto Suárez andTrinidad. This now allows us to ensure a more directparticipation in the implementation of our programsthrough our local partner organizations, while at thesame time bringing us closer to the local populationswith whom we also work and consider key in theparticipation of sustainable natural resourcemanagement and conservation.

With this in mind, the WWFolio is a continuation ofour efforts to bring us closer to those with whom weinteract, as well as ensuring our commitment topermanently share information. Being this our secondedition, we want to take the opportunity to thank ourreaders for their receptiveness regarding our firstedition in February 2005. We look forward to keepingyou informed!

Róger LandívarCountry Representative

WWFOLIO • EDITORIAL

Editorial

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Newprojects,

newchallenges

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Pantanal

Municipal strategies forresponsible tourism

One of the components of WWF Bolivia’s PantanalProgram is of Sustainable Alternatives; one of theinitiatives under this component starting now isresponsible tourism in the Bolivian Pantanal,representing for the local population, as well as forthe municipal governments, a great challenge, yetat the same time, a source of income in the mediumterm. The effort will help local economic developmentand reinforce the valorization and conservation ofPantanal’s natural resources for tourism. If we canensure the planned, participatory, orderly andinformed implementation of tourism activities, wewill achieve sustainability and a true contribution tothe conservation of this huge tropical wetland.

As a starting point, WWF supported the municipalitiesof Puerto Suárez, Puerto Quijarro and San Matíasin the elaboration of three participatory municipalstrategies for responsible tourism, to be publiclypresented in the next weeks at the local level andin Santa Cruz. The strategies are the result of whatlocal actors prioritized in terms of promoting tourismin the Pantanal. One of the first activities definedconsists of a series of tourism training initiatives with

The world’slargest tropical

wetland!

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is both environmentally and socially sustainable andthat includes raising awareness among the localhost population as well as the tourist who visits thearea, and lastly to generate benefits for the localpopulation.

Strengthening the managementof the San Matías Protected AreaAiming to strengthen the management of the SanMatías Natural Integrated Management Area (referredto in Spanish as ANMI San Matías), WWF has signedan agreement with this protected area to supportproductive activities that are linked to the sustainableuse of natural resources as well as focus on povertyalleviation for the communities residing within theANMI San Matías.

Specifically, WWF will support the strengthening ofthe area’s management committee, forestmanagement training courses for park guards andhead of protection, training for community membersin wood carving aimed at promoting the sustainableuse of forest resources while at the same timegenerating economic income for families, establishingvegetable gardens within communities and cattleranches to improve the quality of their nutrition,management of solid waste, establishing a practicaland efficient system for the treatment of garbage,and the placing of signs so that tourist in the areacan easily identify communities and cattle ranches.

Cattle ranching is one ofPantanal’s main productiveactivities.

local actors and in accordance with sustainabledevelopment as the first step towards theimplementation of the municipal strategies.

Of vital importance is the conformation of strategicalliances to take advantage of synergies betweencivil society actors and diverse organizations, whichtogether can help promote the characteristics whichmake the Pantanal so unique and different fromother tourism destinations in Bolivia. In summary,the proposal is to promote responsible tourism that

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Fish Management PlanSince 2003, WWF has been supporting the processfor elaborating a participatory and agreed upon fishmanagement plan with local actors: fishermen andauthorities. The participation of those directly involvedin the design of the management plan for thisresource is perhaps the most valuable element ofthis experience. As a result of this process, there isnow a management plan that has been widelyapproved and accepted by local actors.

WWF has also supported the elaboration of amanagement plan in the Iténez area under the sameparticipatory characteristics in hopes that bothexperiences will be taken into consideration for theelaboration of national legislation regarding fishing.Thus, in April, representatives from the PantanalFishermen’s Cooperative, fishermen from the Iténez,our partner NGO FaunAgua and WWF held a meetingwith the Ministry of Agriculture to present both fishmanagement plans, the process under which theywere drafted and the wealth of information theycontain. These plans will serve as the foundation forthe new fishing law and creating a system regardinguse and local control of the resource.

Collectible Sticker Album andGuide Book for the PantanalIn continuation with environmental educationactivities, the Pantanal Program is scheduled tolaunch, during the second school period for 2005,a collectible sticker album for the Pantanal, whichonce completed will become a guide book.

The album as well as the stickers will be free anddistributed in the municipalities of San Matías, PuertoSuárez and Puerto Quijarro. Approximately 3000children between the ages of 9 and 13 years old willreceive the album and stickers through a prizesystem based on learning principles under theEducational Reform. The album consists of a hundredstickers depicting the Bolivian Pantanal, includinglandscapes, plants, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians,mammals and protected areas. Las ferias son también espacios

idóneos de sensibilización de losmás pequeños.

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The piraña is considered themost aggressive predator of thePantanal.

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Issuance of the EnvironmentalLicense for Puerto BuschOn March 11th the Bolivian authorities issued theEnvironmental License for the proposed infrastructureprojects of the port at Puerto Busch and Motacucito– Puerto Busch railway line. This authorization wasawarded in spite of the fact that the EnvironmentalImpact Studies for these projects have serious errorsin terms of design and calculations. These errorswere informed to the Government on repeatedoccasions by experts from WWF as well as otherorganizations. In fact, the errors were detected aftercareful field visits and studying documents coveringall related aspects including: hydrology, ecology,engineering, economy and political and social

sciences. The proposal for the infrastructure projectsfor Puerto Busch promises extensive economic andsocial benefits as well as a sovereign access to theParaguay-Paraná Hydrovia. The reasoned outevaluation of the proposal points out serious doubtsthat in fact suggest economic loss, negative socialand environmental impacts and an arguableengineering design. In fact, it is important to mentionthat Bolivia already has a sovereign access to theParaguay-Paraná Hydrovia in Puerto Suárez andPuerto Quijarro.

With the same spirit of cooperation that motivatedus to participate in this process we reiterate ourcommitment to share the results of our study entitledSustainable Future for the Bolivian Pantanal whichwill be made public in the coming weeks.

In the Pantanal wetlands, thewater level variability is notoriousalong the year.

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Participatory Rural Diagnosiswith Communities in the IténezIn March, three workshops with 14 communitieswere carried out in the area of influence of the IténezDepartmental Protected Area in Bella Vista, SanBorja and Versalles (Beni). The participation ofwomen in these workshops was outstanding yet theabsence of members from the Itonama indigenouscommunity was worrisome.

The objective of the workshops was to socialize andvalidate the results obtained in the participatorydiagnosis carried out in 2004 regarding the use ofnatural resources in the area. The methodologyconsisted in presenting work proposals for activitiesbased on the results of these diagnoses, share themand adjust as necessary, based on consensus, withthe beneficiaries so they can be the ones to prioritizehow to go about improving the quality of life andsustainable use of natural resources during 2005.

The largest tractof intact humid

forest in theworld!

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ForestsAmazon

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Agreement with the BeniPrefectureFollowing our conservation and sustainabledevelopment efforts for the Iténez – MamoréBinational Corridor, an agreement was signed withthe Office for Natural Resources and Environmentin the Beni Prefecture, providing them with neededsupport for the administration of the IténezDepartmental Park and Natural IntegratedManagement Area.

In addition, the agreement includes training andtransferring of capacities to those responsible forthe management of the Iténez Protected Area andin support of i ts effective management.

Coordinating Committee for theAmboró - Madidi Corridor(CCCAM)In April the CCCAM bimonthly meeting was held inLa Paz. This is a joint initiative between CI, DGB,FAN, ICIB, SERNAP, TNC, Trópico, WCS and WWFthat was initiated at the beginning of 2003 withfunding by USAID.

The CCCAM was born as a coordinating platformbetween the organizations working in the Corridor,allowing the discussion and planning of conservationand sustainable development actions, uniting effortsand exchanging experiences and lessons learned,as well as supporting the National Protected AreasService (SERNAP) and the General Direction forBiodiversity (DGB) in the management of theprotected areas that are within the CAM.

An important aspect of this meeting was thepresentation of a proposal for the development ofpolicies regarding corridors in the DGB.

The Beni Prefecture managesthe Iténez Protected Area.

Magnificent Amboró ProtectedArea.

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The Southwest Amazon VisionIn order to continue prioritizing actions and strategiesfor the conservation and sustainable developmentfor this eco-region shared by Bolivia, Peru and Brazil,which also happens to be listed as one of the 200eco-regions of global importance, WWF Bolivia heldan internal workshop to discuss and analyze thedocument “Biodiversity Vision of the SouthwesternAmazonian Moist Forests”. This activity also formspart of the preparation process for the design of amonitoring and evaluation system for WWF’s actionsin the eco-region.

This kind of workshop is also an excellent opportunityto exchange and discuss technical and scientificinformation under an interdisciplinary umbrellaregarding how WWF intervenes in the eco-region.It was also an opportunity for new WWF Bolivia staffmembers to become familiar with the methodologyand indicators utilized in constructing the biodiversityvision. The workshop was facilitated by Juan CarlosRiveros, eco-regional planning expert at WWF Peru.

At the eco-regional level two training workshopshave already been held in Peru and Brazil relatedto the methodology for developing the Eco-regionalMonitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System. In addition,Peru and Brazil have made progress with the designof their own M&E system that together with the onedeveloped by WWF Bolivia will form part of oneM&E system for the eco-region.

Derogation of the AltamachiDepartmental Protected AreaIn the previous edition of WWFolio we informed ofthe processes being carried forward by WWF andCIDEDER aimed at supporting the Prefecture ofCochabamba in the consolidation of the Altamachiprotected area. Efforts thus far have not renderedthe desired result, and in fact have worsened,considering that after creating the AltamachiDepartmental Park and Natural IntegratedManagement Area via Prefectural Resolution132/2002, it was abolished due to pressure fromindigenous and farming leaders.

However the possibility is still open to building anew consensus to promote conservation and thearea’s sound management, since within thePrefectural Resolution (054/2005) which annuls thearea, it is still considered of departmental importancetowards sustainable development based oncommunity management and according to uses andcustoms that can guarantee the conservation of their

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San Martín River shore, next toBella Vista, Beni.

WWFOLIO • FORESTS & AMAZON

natural resources for the present and futuregenerations.

The importance of protecting this area is rooted inthe cloud forest found within the area, whichconstitutes the main catalyst for rain and suppliesthe Misicuni watershed, the only provider of waterfor the population in Cochabamba.

Manuripi Reserve ManagementPlanConsidering the complex legal, political and socio-economic situation present in all protected areaswithin Bolivia, it is wise to coordinate theirmanagement with the economic activities of thecommunities and to keep in mind that the localinhabitant is the main conservation actor forsustainable development.

WWF, through the local NGO Herencia, iscoordinating with the administration for the ManuripiWildlife Reserve to make viable future efforts for theimplementation of its management plan. Specifically,WWF is facilitating participatory environmentalmanagement, optimization of the production andcommercialization systems for Brazil nut, ecotourismdevelopment, management committee andequipment and infrastructure for implementing controland surveillance activities. Manuripi is one of theprotected areas in Bolivia with not only the highestlevels of diversity in terms of wildlife, but alsoencompasses numerous rivers of regional andnational importance.

Project for strengthening theMAP processThe region known as MAP involves the peripheralareas of Madre de Dios - Peru, Acre - Brazil andPando - Bolivia, and constitutes the heart of theSouthwest Amazon eco-region. This eco-regionconcentrates several world records in terms ofbiological diversity as well as a diversity in terms ofethnic groups and social actors linked to the forestand its resources. The elevated levels of rainfall andthe influence of the temperate winds from the south

Manuripi is one of the richestprotected areas regarding fauna.

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contribute to the formation of unique tropical forestsand harbouring some of the richest and most intactforests on Earth.

The MAP region is inhabited by indigenous andpheasant communities, small private property ownersas well as large landowners (fazendeiros) in Brazil,timber and non-timber concessionaires (Brazil nut)in Bolivia and inhabitants of rapidly growing urbansettlements. The majority of the rural inhabitants,as well as urban-rural inhabitants, are also dedicatedto subsistence agriculture and cattle ranching.

On the other hand, the region will be the target ofimportant infrastructure development projects suchas the inter-oceanic highway. This highway, whilealso representing an opportunity for the region’sdevelopment, could become a great threat if thenecessary measures are not taken to minimize thenegative impacts it could generate.

As a result, in January a Project has been underwaythat seeks to improve the local capacities of theorganizations in the region and contribute to thedevelopment of a strategy to achieve the sustainabledevelopment and conservation, promoting

organizational synergies regarding land tenure andforest management via the active participation oflocal academic and technical organizations, localand regional governments, private sector andcommunity organizations.

As mentioned in the prior edition of WWFolio, theProject design and follow-up is carried out by aConsortium of six international organizations: CARE,CI, SNV, TBI, TNC and WWF.

WWF is in charge of the implementation of theproject. Along with local institutions and organizations,we have organized workshops involving regionalactors, in order to better define the activities to beimplemented. Until now, workshops on Strengtheningof productive chains, emphasising on Brazil nut(objective 3 of the project) and on Land tenure(objective 2) have been carried out, where activitiesand possible partners were identified for these twoobjectives of the project. Based on this process, anannouncement is being disseminated in order togather proposals for the implementation of theactivities regarding the aforementioned objectives,as well as other activities within the proposed actionplan.

Information on Pando(Source: SupportCommittee for Land Tenureand the National Institutefor Agrarian Reform, INRA)Surface area: 6.3 million haUsable Forest: 5.05 millionhaLumber concessions: 1.5million ha (23.8%)Brazil nut harvesters (300families): 3 million ha (47%)Indigenous CommunalLands (TCO in Spanish)claimed by six indigenousvillages: 440,000 ha (6%)Land occupied by 8000families of extractiveAmazonian pheasants:100,000 ha (1.5%)

Information regarding BrazilnutsMuch of the data throughoutthe text related to Brazil nutincludes information fromthe Vaca Diez Province,Beni, and whose mostimportant urban center,Riberalta, has close to87000 Brazil nut harvestersof which the majority returnto Pando annually duringthe harvesting season.Additionally, the majority ofthe Brazil nut harvestersfrom Pando reside inRiberalta, where 17 of the19 processors for Brazil nutin Bolivia are located.

WWF supports the optimizationof the Brazil nut production andmarketing systems.

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Forest Training for CommunitiesUnder an adaptive focus and participatorymethodology, WWF is continuing with its ForestryTraining program aimed at contributing to meetingthe technical needs regarding forest managementin the six communities of the Guarayos IndigenousCommunal Lands (TCO in Spanish): Yotaú, SantaMaría, Momené, Cururú, Salvatierra and San Juan.The program, financed by Groenhart, WWFSwitzerland and WWF Bolivia consists in promotingan experience oriented towards a gradualimprovement of forest management to achievesustainability and development of local capacitiesconverting communities into forestry operators.

The activities of this program were implemented bythe Bolivian Institute for Forestry Research (IBIF),and in San Juan community by the Amazon Centerfor Sustainable Forest Enterprise (CADEFOR).Twenty four workshops were carried out and focusedon developing basic forestry planning skills (use ofa GPS, mapping and forest census), silviculturalpractices (management of trees for future harvesting,evaluation of natural regeneration), as well asproviding information on FSC certification. In its firstyear, the program trained 125 men and womenbetween the ages of 12 and 25 years old membersof the above mentioned communities as well as oforganizations related to them.

As support material for the community trainingprocess for current and future efforts, WWF and itspartners are elaborating diverse training tools focusedon communities in topics such as: elaboration offorestry maps, identification of natural regeneration,identification of commercial species, monitoring andevaluation of social impacts, among others.

Theoretical training is combinedwith practical on the groundexperiences.

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Publications

Illustrated Guide on the Regenerationof Forest Species in Bolivia

As a result of a joint effort between IBIF, WWF and theCenter for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), anillustrated guide has been prepared regarding the 60most important tree species in Bolivia and that respondto a selection of species from the Southwest Amazonand Dry Chiquitano Forest eco-regions as well as thetransition forests between both. This guide also includes,for some species at least, an illustration of their fruitsand / or seeds, as well as their common name, scientificname and family. This guide is important for sustainablemanagement since it allows for the identification ofcommercial species at the natural regeneration level.

For further information please contact:bmostacedo@ibifbolivia.org.bo andomelgarejo@wwfbolivia.org

Guides regarding silviculture inBolivia’s tropical forests

With the objective of systematizing the experience ofteaching-learning developed in the Guarayo communitiesunder the forestry training program with communities,IBIF and WWF are publishing two practical silviculturalguides entitled: “Basic Silvicultural Concepts in TropicalForests” and “Cutting of Lianas, a Silvicultural Practice”.These publications complement the experiencegenerated by the Bolfor I project. The publicationscontain basic information on the topic and are writtenin simple language so that both beneficiaries andfacilitators can utilize them as support material in trainingefforts.

For further information please contact:bmostacedo@ibifbolivia.org.bo andomelgarejo@wwfbolivia.org

14WWFOLIO • EDITORIAL

More

Celebrating our Natural andCultural Patrimony

As announced in our previous edition of WWFolio,SERNAP, in collaboration with WWF, has begunorganizing the celebration for the National ProtectedAreas Day in Bolivia and has initiated activities inpreparation for the event scheduled for September4th.

Among the activities underway and foreseen untilSeptember, we can mention the itinerant photoexhibit with a selection of photos representing the22 protected areas within the National ProtectedAreas System, made possible thanks to photostaken by nature photographers, as well as supportfor environmental fairs and events emphasizingprotected areas, contests, publication of informationalpostcards, brochures, banners and a Festival forNature, Life and Culture to be held on September4th.

Our worktowards aliving planet

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These activities, which require ample disseminationprior to the celebration, are being led by five regionalcommittees organized by SERNAP with the directorsof protected areas, WWF, and institutional andindividual volunteers.

Mini Environmental Libraries inTrinidad, Cobija and PuertoSuárezAs of 2004, WWF has established offices in Trinidad,Puerto Suárez and Cobija. The opening of theseoffices has experienced the need expressed onbehalf of the local population, especially childrenand young adults, in accessing information onenvironmental topics.

In response to this request, WWF reorganized itslibrary in the main Santa Cruz office and was ableto distribute considerable material to its field offices.This is an ongoing process but it is expected thatwithin the next months each office will have a smalllibrary that can contribute to the information andeducat ion needs of these populat ions.

The most recently creatednational protected area: IñaoMountainous Region NaturalIntegrated Management Area

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How WWF worksWWF in Bolivia channels funds primarily under thetwo following contract mechanisms:

Consultancy

WWF hires the services of a consultant for a shortterm period and for the implementation of activitiesthat full-time WWF staff would not have the time tofully carry out or that require a specific technical skillor capacity. The final product is remunerated andremains with WWF for its use within the frameworkof its current projects.

Grant

The channelling of funds under this mechanism ispart of WWF’s program planning and in line with ourinstitutional mission. This means funding a projectwhich is awarded to a national organization and inaccordance with what WWF is implementing withinits programs and in relation to what has been agreedupon with the donor. Through these grant contracts,WWF transfers the management of a project, or apart of it, to local organizations for a determinedtime period and under certain conditions.

Finances

WWF BoliviaAv. Beni, calle Los Pitones 2070Tel.: +591-3-3430609Fax: +591-3-3430406Santa Cruz, Boliviawwfbol iv ia@wwfbol iv ia.org

WWFThe global conservation organization

WWF’s ultimate goal is to stop and eventually reverse environmental degradation andto build a future where people live in harmony with nature. Our promise to the worldis that through working together, we will find the best solutions to save nature. For morethan 40 years our passion, commitment, and inspiring actions have made us the mostrecognized independent conservation organization on Earth.

Produced by: WWF Bolivia • Graphic design: Barbián Comunicación • Print: Landívar SRL

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