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CURRENT RESULTS
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The Sustainable Forestry Management already has important advances and
benefits for the forestry sector, and for the country as a whole:
Our forests' true productive capacity (forestry potential) is now known,
and are the source of industry projections based on reliable data.
Forestry use has been diversified, and new species have been included in
the sustainable forestry use.
Bolivia has approximately 8,000,000 hectares of natural forest,
sustainably managed by different users (private owners, Local Social
Groups (Agrupaciones Sociales del Lugar), native people communities,
campesino communities and forestry concessionaires).
This is the world's largest surface of sustainably-managed natural
forests, with voluntary certification of over 1,200,000 hectares of
natural forest.
The Bolivian Chamber of Forestry was awarded the international GIFT TO
THE EARTH for its promotion and implementation of Sustainable Forestry
Management by the private sector, thanks to Voluntary Forestry
Certification. The management being implemented in our forests ensures
that Bolivia's forestry production is truly sustainable.
Source: Vice-Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
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EDITORIAL
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To cooperate in the forestry sector's
development, the Bolivian Chamber of Forestry believes it important that
the public be informed through the media about one of the country's most
productive sectors, and the invaluable benefits for society.
Thus, the BOLIVIA LIDER project was formed, supported by USAID and the
GDA (Global Development Agency). The project involves a series of
communication activities, including monthly publication of this
supplement in two of the country's leading newspapers.
One of the main objectives of the Bolivian Chamber of Forestry, as
detailed in its charter, is the promotion and stimulation of sustainable
forestry management by its associates. We believe the forestry sector is
the country's future, using the principles of sustainable development.
Bolivia has made enormous efforts, with substantial important
achievements in forestry. However, there is still a lot of work to be
done. Through Bolivia Lider, we want to inform the public about these
advances, and to orient it regarding the actions needed to make Bolivia
a forestry country.
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LA CHONTA:
A COMPANY WITH A VISION OF THE FUTURE
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La Chonta was born in 1974, and, since its
foundation, has been exporting its products. Forestry concessions are
located in Guarayos and the Bajo Paraguá in the north of Santa Cruz
Department. They are worked using the principles of sustainability, and,
although this work was done empirically before application of the new
forestry law, it cooperated in this, while competing as an export
company. At the end of 1996, the company decided to be certified.
Learning that La Chonta was seeking the green seal, its largest buyer in
the United States also entered the process, with an eye on opening new
markets.
For La Chonta, having the certification of its forestry areas results in
a competitive advantage internationally. The forestry certification, or
green seal, guarantees the client that the acquired product comes from a
managed forest, one that is protected during production.
Eng. Antelo explained that sustainable management of the natural forest
demands considerable effort. It is necessary not only to consider the
timber--a good business--but the whole environment. Maintaining the
ecosystem very nearly intact in spite of human intervention is not an
easy task.
La Chonta, which has forestry concessions with a 30-year felling cycle,
the expectation is for these areas to be productive forever, so that in
2027, 2057, 2087, etc. there will be a forest similar to the previous
one, with the capacity to satisfy industry needs, while maintaining its
ecological values.
According to Bolivian law, the companies must promote forest
regeneration. This is not the same as the cultivation of trees (reforestation
or forestation). Conditions are created so that this regeneration occurs
naturally. This work is more complex but necessary, with the idea that
the environment should be altered as little as possible.
The function of the natural tropical forests goes beyond producing
timber. They are an ecosystem with fauna and flora that provides us
clean water, captures carbon dioxide, produces oxygen, regulates the
climate, and other invaluable environmental services. Their preservation
is thus an unavoidable task. "Maintaining the forests is now a
commitment that must be assumed by all society. The total burden now
falls on the person who administers them," explained Eng. Antelo.
It is believed that Bolivia's future lies in appropriately managing its
natural resources. With almost half of its territory covered with
forests, an excellent option for the country is to strengthen the
forestry sector so that the areas with productive forest are managed
sustainably, generating wealth, well-being and employment that the
country so badly needs.
The virtue of forestry activity is that it can be productive without
spoiling the forest's environmental services, while still respecting
local customs. In this way, the forestry sector can generate 200,000 new
jobs, and $1 billion in exports.
"Specialized studies indicate this is possible--and depends on us. For
this, the State must create the needed forestry development conditions,
including legal security, to promote investments and productivity," said
the La Chonta Manager.
Pablo Antelo
General Manager "La
Chonta"
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SANTA CRUZ 2020 FOR FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT
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Ricardo Saucedo, Director of Natural Resources and Environment,
of
the Santa Cruz Department Prefecture.
How is sustainable forestry management
viewed in the Prefecture?
"Sustainable forestry management is one of the development strategies
that the Santa Cruz Department Prefecture wants to stimulate, based on a
global vision detailed in the "Santa Cruz 2020" proposal. That is to say,
how we see Santa Cruz in 20 years. One of the pillars of this vision is
the forestry sector's development," said lawyer Ricardo Saucedo.
"To strengthen the sector, there is a forestry régime, a forestry law, a
supreme decree, and 8 regulation norms and 12 volumes that are the body
of resolutions that the Forestry Superintendence issues every year.
These form the legal framework, with the objective of a rational and
integral use of the forest, without affecting its ecological or
productive capacities."
What role does the Prefecture play?
"In sustainable forestry management, according to Law, the Department
Prefecture must support the technical investigations, the functions of
the Forestry Superintendence regarding legal security, and make known
the forestry régime.
"Regarding legal security, there have been several cases of invasion of
lands, and illegal settlements in forestry areas. Although the Forestry
Superintendence has custody, the Prefecture, as the departmental
government, establishes control and information systems; even using
force in some cases.
"One of our country's few advantages over the production capacities of
neighboring countries is sustainable forestry management. The fact that
Bolivia has the world's largest voluntarily certified forests is not
chance; it is because we have a very rich forest, and an efficient
regulatory system that has allowed us to work and maintain a forestry
management sector that understood the signs 7 years ago, and which has
been able to adapt to the State's new rules."
What are the benefits and disadvantages of sustainable forestry
management?
"Sustainable forestry management brings only benefits to the actors and
to everyone else. It is a win-win relationship between forest and
productive activity.
"This is reflected in the growth and development of the forestry
companies that have opted for voluntary forestry certification. This is
nothing more than a certification that sustainable forestry development
is being used-, and the companies and have now entered the markets of
Europe, Asia and North America. Those companies that have not opted for
certification remain in the local or bordering-country markets.
"In fact, the forest is the winner with forestry management; and this in
a country living on an extractive economy, the environmental services
that the forest provides for all the agricultural, cattle raising and
forestry sector. We thus somehow maintain our current productive
capacity.
"Regarding forestry management--which is a form of forest utilization
and maintenance--all the actors are aware that this is the correct way.
The current problem is how public opinion sees forestry use. We are
suffering a serious loss of the lands adapted to permanent forestry use.
This is because of a completely erroneous concept that land not under
cultivation is abandoned land, or that forestry use is not sufficiently
important enough to be honored. The problem is a public perception of
the services that the forest provides, and the importance of maintaining
it."
What is still to be done?
"There is much to be done. We must define clear national policies in the
forestry sector. This was done seven years ago when they were creating
the legal forestry régime, but they have not been sustained.
"The definition of government policies includes defining whether this
country is interested or not in having forests and managing them. This
decision must consider producing $100 million in wood and non-wood
exports this year and up to $1 billion in ten years. We're talking about
one of the areas with the most potential for employment.
"We must also advance in democratizing the forest, although the sector
has already opened up to rural businessmen.
"All this must be based on legal security for forestry lands, so that
they are no longer seen as booty when creating new human settlements in
what are seen as social victories, but contradict the objective of an
economic forestry sector. Because of this, we have to define whether or
not we want to have forests."
What must the public know?
"The public must know that we owe what we have now and how we live to
the existence of forests. Our agricultural production and cattle
ranching are due to the existence of forests that regulate temperature
and humidity, and provide nutrients to agricultural lands. Sufficient
water is available because of the forest's capacity as the natural
regulator of the water cycle.
"The people must know that sustainable use does not mean destruction of
the forest, but rather its conservation. Throughout Bolivian history, it
can be seen that those lands that are suited for forestry production and
not being occupied have been turned to agricultural use, but it must be
known that even the worst forestry management is more positive than the
best agricultural management."
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FRANCISCO KEMPFF:
"WITHOUT COMPETITIVE PRIVATE COMPANIES THERE IS NO STATE"
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"...through the state, the Forestry
Superintendence will try to help strengthen the different stages of the
productive chain of forestry enterprises, because without income from
competitive private companies, there is no state; and worse yet, no
sustainable management with quality," said Eng. Francisco Kempff, when
the Board of the Bolivian Chamber of Forestry was sworn-in (mid-March).
The Forestry Superintendence's vision is incentives to the sector by:
- Safeguarding the regulations with periodic inspections, to make the
Superintendence a free service consultant on sustainable management.
- Making sustainable management friendlier in its economic,
environmental and social aspects, through identification of forestry
regulation strengths and weaknesses.
- Strategic control of informal users, in alliance with formal users.
- Strengthening social control with the communities and businessmen, in
order to avoid settlement invasions of lands with granted rights.
- Preparing strategies on legal security and setting them into practice,
etc.
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SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT IS A LEGAL DEMAND
BOLIVIA IS ON THE ROAD TO GOOD FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
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"Bolivia is on the road to good forestry
management-to obtaining favorable socioeconomic effects, benefits for
the environment and ecological stability-where the trend is toward
sustainable forestry resources. This guarantees that future generations
of Bolivians will have services provided by the forests," said Forestry
Superintendent Eng. Francisco Kempff.
"Figures demonstrate this: since implementation of the Forestry Law
almost seven years ago, there have been around 8.7 million hectares
under forestry management. Of these, 77% are government lands (areas
under concession to timber companies, ASL, universities, plus long-term
contracts), 13% private property, 9% Native Community Lands and
Campesino Communities.
"Sustainable forestry management is achieved via planned activities, so
that forestry use may continue over time. This is reflected in the
Forestry Management Plans.
"Certainly, forestry management has important benefits. These include
indefinitely providing forestry products, in addition to preserving the
sustainability of other forest ecosystem resources," added Eng. Kempff.
"For the future, the Forestry Superintendence sees the need to carry out
the Forestry Management Plans, and to increase the area under forestry
land management.
"The Forestry Superintendence will begin with technical forestry audits
this year.
"By Law, every five years, there will be technical audits of granted
concessions, to check execution of the Forestry Management Plan and
dispositions called for in the Forestry Régime.
"Other tasks we must perform are: implementation of an improved forestry
control system; increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of
regulation and control through auxiliary agents; providing for less
centralized control in the process of approval of some key management
instruments; and agreements of delegation of functions to municipalities.
"Agreement with prefectures, and implementing strategies for prevention
and control of forestry fires is needed," said Forestry Superintendent
Francisco Kempff.
"There are supplementary elements that are contributing to strengthening
forestry management. Some of them are:
- Definition of the rights in government lands, and responsibility for
their administration, subject to monitoring and evaluation.
- Democratization of access to government lands for Local Social Groups,
and incorporation of Native Community Lands and private properties into
forestry management.
- Incorporation of areas for protection and conservation of biodiversity
into Forestry Management Units (UMF).
- Incorporation of responsibilities to Municipalities in the definition
of their forestry resources.
- Forestry management as an efficient mechanism to avoid the change of
use, and to maintain forests in permanent production.
- Legitimizing the forestry managerial sector.
- Contributions of the forestry management units in preserving national
parks through biological corridors, and buffer areas."
What does the norm on Sustainable Forestry Management establish?
"The object of the Forestry Law is to norm sustainable use, and protect
forests and forestry lands to benefit current and future generations,
thus balancing the country's social, economic and ecological interests.
Its Art. 69 indicates the basis to establish technical norms for
preparing management instruments for forestry resources sustainability.
"Four Technical Norms have been organized for Preparation of Forestry
Management Instruments on different eco-regions around the country.
"The technical norms detail the reference terms for preparation of the
Forestry Management General Plan (Art. 27 of the Forestry Law). The
Management Plan is an essential requirement for all kinds of forestry
use. It is an indispensable requirement for the legal exercise of
forestry activities.
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THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF FORESTRY'S ROLE
IN SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
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As an institution of Regulation and Control,
the Superintendence of Forestry (SF) is responsible for supervising the
execution of the Nation's Forestry Régime. The Forestry Law establishes
that the Forestry Management Plan is an indispensable requirement to
carry out forestry activities, and the Superintendence of Forestry
regulates and controls its execution. Thus, as a State representative,
it guarantees that forestry activities support sustainable management,
in addition to developing guidelines, and instructions for greater and
better application of the Forestry Régime.
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THE FORESTRY LAW PROTECTS THE FORESTS
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Starting with promulgation of the Forestry Law,
Bolivia changed direction regarding sustainable forestry management. The
object is forestry use within the framework of a series of regulation
measures that assure forestry production forever. The two main
management instruments to achieve sustainable forestry management are:
the Forestry Management General Plan (PGMF) and the Annual Forestry
Operating Plan (POAF).
The Forestry Management General Plan is a medium- and long-term plan,
with procedures which every businessman must follow to be able to take
advantage of his forestry area:
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1. He must prepare a Forestry Map, and classify
his forests. That is to say, a map of the chosen forestry area must
identify the agricultural lands with and without forests, the usable
forestry lands and those that don't have forest (for reforestation),
etc. |
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2. Prepare a Forestry Inventory. An inventory
must be made using sampling techniques to determine how many trees
exist in the forestry area. |
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3. A forestry area must be divided into a
minimum of 20 parts, taking into account only the lands that can be
used. Only 1 of the 20 parts may be worked every year. This is the
Annual Area of Use [Área Anual de Aprovechamiento], abbreviated AAA,
or Triple A. Once the Triple A is defined, the species to be used,
and the modality of use, will be defined. |
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4. A Forestry Census will be made of all the
species found in the Triple A; quantities, their geographic location,
marked on a forestry census map. |
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5. The allowed yearly use, or cut, is a maximum
80% of the mature trees in the area that will be used. A total 20%
of the best mature trees will be left to provide seed stock, and
assure the species' regeneration. |
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6. Felling cycles are a minimum 20 years. That
is to say, a forestry area can only be used again after 20 years--the
minimum time in which those forests will have regenerated naturally. |
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7. Only mature trees can be extracted. These
are established by trunk diameter at 1.5 m above the ground. To
determine a tree diameter for felling, the type of forest and zone
are considered, as a species' diameter can vary at maturity because
of its habitat. The minimum diameter is 50 cm. |
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8. The less common species, or those with less
than 0.25 trees/ha have a special management treatment, because less
harvesting is called for in order to not put the species in danger
of extinction. |
Technical instruments have been designed to facilitate the control and
inspection of forestry use and all wood transformation processes, and
allow us to assure sustainable production of our forests to perpetuity,
based on adequate implementation of sustainable forestry management and
control all along the production chain.
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SMARTWOOD:
BOLIVIA HAS SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
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There is special international interest in
Bolivia because of its potential as one of the Earth's lungs, and as a
supplier of raw material and finished wood products.
In addition, Bolivia has species and products that other countries lack,
especially hard woods. Because of this, it holds a good position in
garden furniture production, for example.
Bolivia currently has more than 8 million hectares under sustainable
forestry management (source: SmartWood). These forestry areas maintain a
favorable balance for humanity between economic, environmental (ecological)
and social sustainability.
These forests are used economically, without plundering them, favoring
man, while still assuring that forestry activity, and that a diversified
forest can continue to exist forever.
Making these three pillars of sustainable forestry management compatible
with each other is not easy. Bolivia has difficulties because of its
nature: lack of infrastructure, limited production, high production
costs, etc. Certainly, sustainable forestry management has a
considerable and permanent cost, as whoever performs forestry management
must constantly invest in inventory, census, evaluation, technicians and
other points.
Businessmen maintain their forestry areas under sustainable management
because they are aware of the necessity and benefits this means.
The NGO SmartWood (international forestry certifier) provides forestry
certification as a tool for sustainable forestry management. This
organization certifies good management of forestry areas that also meet
other international demands additional to internal or national
legislation.
The products that result from areas with forestry certification have a
comparative advantage when they compete for markets, especially abroad,
where they look for well-treated wood that complies with sustainable
forestry management demands.
According to SmartWood Regional Manager Katherine Pierront, there are
interesting market niches that prefer certified wood, and demand is
increasing. Meanwhile, current supply doesn't cover existing demand.
"Internationally, the forestry areas under sustainable management win
credibility and markets," says Pierront. This applies not only to large
companies, but to companies such as ASL (Local Social Groups) and TCO (Native
Community Lands) practicing sustainable forestry management. Because
they are certified through an independent international institution,
they obtain credibility and receive support from normally-opposing
groups (NGOs and environmentalist organizations).
Those businessmen who maintain forestry management and have forestry
certification--which go hand in hand, even though it means extra cost--will
survive, realizing the great potential and benefits. Even the ASL, TCO
and (usually small) private properties are entering the program, seeing
that it can be a useful economic option. Several of them supply
companies that have their custody chain certified.
"In fact, Bolivia leads the world in certification of tropical natural
forests. We have 1.2 million hectares of certified forests, and know
that over 3 million hectares in TCO and ASL are under sustainable
management and private-usually small--properties, and approximately 4.8
million hectares in concessions," said the SmartWood Coordinator for
Bolivia, Freddy Peña.
"People involved in forestry are already aware of the need for
sustainable forest management. This is not so with the general public
yet. We don't know how many people know about the importance of the
forests, what services, what resources the forests generate.
"Probably we must join efforts to create that awareness so our internal
markets become selective in the forestry products they consume.
"To date, none of the certified companies sell in the national market,
because they can't compete with woods from non-certified sources. This
is a clear indication that work on the consumer's awareness is needed,"
added Eng. Peña.
"However," stressed Peña, "the fact that Bolivia is a leading country in
certification is because it also leads in sustainable management of
tropical forests. This means there is a certainty--at least within the
forestry sector actors--that forestry management is necessary and useful
for forest conservation, and for the country's economic and social
profit. Because of this, SmartWood tries to demonstrate to the companies
that there is a market and a series of benefits when they are certified,
and consequently, when performing forestry management, providing
workshops and training activities to inform the sector about the
importance of sustainable forestry management, and demonstrating that
sustainable forestry management is available in Bolivia.
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PROJECT BOLFOR II : 15
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE FORESTRY SECTOR
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The BOLFOR II project is dedicated to aiding
the forestry sector's development. Its time of execution is six years,
with a $15 million subsidy from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the NGO The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
The project will be executed by TNC, the Centro Amazónico para
Desarrollo Forestal Sostenible, the Tropical Forest Trust, the
Southeastern Consortium for International Development and the Centro
para Programas de Comuni-cación.
The BOLFOR II project objective is to promote sustainable forestry
management, improving the profitability of forestry and community
companies, but we also want to help disseminate better practices in
sustainable forestry management, from planning the use, planning roads,
transport, sawmills, transformation, promoting exports and putting a
priority on forestry in the national agenda.
The BOLFOR II project seeks to help create greater interest in the
forestry sector, because only the generation of surplus lets people
improve their quality of life and have incentives to care for their
natural resources.
The project will support the forestry industry, with more emphasis on
Local Social Groups (ASL) and Native Community Lands (TCO). Sustainable
forestry management can be difficult for the TCO, because it demands
technical knowledge and access to credit that, historically, has been a
problem for these organizations. Nevertheless, we believe this can be
overcome.
The ASL case is also complex. Although they have a more management-oriented
mentality, this is a heterogeneous group that encounters problems in
access to financing; and is in markets available to the native people.
All this to some degree hinders entering a sustainable forest management
framework. However, these companies also utilize sustainable management
for the benefits they receive.
Sustainable forestry management must be understood as a necessity and
responsibility of all, making good use of natural resources. We must
also remember that most private companies are making use of a public
resource that generates revenues and general well-being, especially by
creating employment in the cities. The good use of these resources
generates benefits for many; through employment, taxes, exports and the
provision of environmental services.
Bolfor II Director Robert Kenny said that, "in spite of it's scale,
Bolivia's tropical forestry management is better than any other
country's. This demonstrates that we're able to adopt good ideas, adapt
them to our conditions, and can be world leaders in an effort that will
create opportunities for growth, development and well-being.
"The forestry sector can help open the eyes of all Bolivians to greater
things. We can modify the direction of the future. We can think of
concentrating part of our manpower, exports and investments on renewable
natural resources that can generate benefits for us both now and in the
future."
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GENERAL DIRECTOR OF FORESTRY
DEVELOPMENT, ENG. PABLO RODRÍGUEZ ÁÑEZ
"BOLIVIA IS A COUNTRY SUITABLE FOR FORESTRY"
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Tropical natural forests are one of humanity's
important renewable natural resources. They have great biodiversity
(flora, fauna), produce most of the tropical wood, and provide many
other socioeconomic, cultural and environmental benefits.
"Approximately 50% of Bolivia's total surface area is covered with
forest, with more than 41 million hectares considered lands suitable for
permanent forestry. Thus, we can state that Bolivia is a forestry
country. Because of this, there is an imperative need for our forests to
be preserved through integrated and sustainable use, generating work
opportunities and production alternatives," assured Eng. Pablo Rodríguez
Áñez, General Director of Forestry Development, of the Vice-Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment.
"There is a powerful necessity for application of Sustainable Forestry
Management, using it as an instrument to apply management techniques in
forestry use, forestry activities, environmental impact mitigation
measures, as well as control over hunting and wild fauna, in a planned
manner; to favor species or groups of species that have high social and
economic value, as well as favoring the environmental services our
forests can offer.
The objective of sustainable forestry management is to ensure production
in perpetuity, without risking the ecosystem balance, assuring the
availability of forestry resources for future needs.
"The national government should consider sustainable forestry use as a
strategic element of economic development, to generate jobs for the
Bolivian people, and, in this way reduce the poverty index and increase
the country's competitiveness," said Eng. Rodríguez.
The Ministry of Sustainable Development is the main body directing the
Forestry Régime. Its major function is formulating national strategies,
policies, plans and norms for the correct execution of the Nation's
Forestry Régime as dictated by law.
The General Director of Forestry Development stressed the importance of
sustainable management as the way to assure that natural resources
benefit society in the future, economically, environmentally and
socially.
"This becomes enough reason for the Bolivian government to focus on the
defense of this instrument (Sustainable Forestry Management) in the
search for the Bolivians' well-being."
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TRIPLE A
WE MUST WAIT 20 YEARS BEFORE USING A FORESTRY AREA AGAIN
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Only 5% of a defined forestry area can be used
(or wood extracted) each year, according to the Forestry Law.
To be able to extract wood from a forestry area that measures 20
hectares, for example, the property must first be divided into 20 parts,
and only one of them may be used per year.
When year number 1 comes around again, the businessman will begin his
felling cycle again, and will begin with that 5% area which he used at
the beginning.
The 5% piece of the selected forestry area, which is called Triple A
(Área Anual de Aprovechamiento or Annual Area of Use), which generally
has a variety of tree species, forces the businessman to use several
commercial species, rather than just those that have better market.
Before the law, businessmen preferred to use only the species that had
more value in the market. The practice was endangering those preferred
species.
Another important point contemplated in the law is that only mature
trees can be felled. This guarantees that the small ones reach their
best age to provide the normal environmental services, and later on
economic services. The law foresees the reserve of mature trees
dedicated exclusively to the provision of seed stock for a natural
regeneration of the forest, returning to their original state as soon as
possible.
Currently, the 20-year felling cycle, the definition of the Triple A and
the felling regulations regarding size, inventories and others, assure
that forests will continue to exist in the future. This is Sustainable
Management of Forests.
The following example demonstrates how a forestry area is used:
If this forestry area measures 20 ha, only 5% is usable per year, or,
said another way, their trees can be taken out, but under the following
conditions:
- Identifying the commercial species
- Mature trees of a minimum 40 cm diameter
- For each Triple A approved, the forestry businessman must pay a sum
indicated by Law, whether he used the area that year or not.
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