Concept Development of a Forest Program

The conversion of natural forest into agricultural land has steadily increased in Bolivia in recent decades. In 2016, there were deforestation rates of up to 450,000 hectares, mainly caused by livestock, soy plantations and a growing settlement pressure. Between 2015 and 2017, the GIZ financed a project to promote the sustainable management of natural forests – predominantly owned by indigenous communities – in the lowlands of Bolivia, specifically the Chiquitania region. The project aimed to increase revenues from non-timber-forest-products value chains. At the end of 2017, UNIQUE was commissioned to plan and reorganize the follow-up phase of this project together with the Bolivian partner.