Bolivia, leading FSC certification in tropical forests - October 12th, 2005

Bolivia has certified more than two million hectares of its forests, making the South American country the world leader in FSC tropical forest certification.

“Bolivia’s leadership represents the best example of a join effort between different sectors and responsible companies to guarantee sustainable management of forests,” said Henry Moreno, FSC Bolivia Executive Director.

In recognition of achieving good forestry management, timber company CIMAL/IMR received an award, on behalf of the FSC accredited certification body Rainforest Alliance, SmartWood Program, for its commitment to certifying 300,000ha of its forests. Of the 300,000ha, 25 per cent is considered a forest of high conservation value and has been designated a reserve. Also recognized at the award ceremony were 23 national forest operations for their contributions in making Bolivia a world leader in forest certification.

"We are thrilled to celebrate our long and productive relationship with Bolivia," says SmartWood regional manager Katherine Pierront. "These certifications are due to the efforts of a highly efficient, experienced, ethical and committed staff. It has been a huge team effort."

Bolivia was one of the first countries to initiate efforts promoting the conservation of its forests through sustainable management and FSC forest certification, a trend that began early in the 1990s and grew stronger following the passing of the country’s forestry law in 1995. “The government of Bolivia is a pioneer in Latin America by having a progressive forestry law,” said FSC International Executive Director Heiko Liedeker in the presence of Bolivian President Eduardo Rodriguez Velze who attended the ceremony.

The FSC certified forest sector in Bolivia currently generates about US$16 million annually from exports. This includes such certified products as doors, furniture, floor boards, parquet, chairs, veneers, handicrafts, and sawn timber. These products are mainly exported to the United States and United Kingdom, as well as to other countries, including Chile, Indonesia, Paraguay, France, Peru, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil and Italy.

In addition to economic benefits, certification has also had a positive impact on social benefits.

“FSC certification process in Bolivia has improved labor conditions of forestry workers in terms of level of income, safety, hygiene and health, as well as access to opportunities to strengthen their capacities” said Roger Landivar, WWF's country representative in Bolivia.

Indirectly FSC has helped improve relationships between forestry companies and local population regarding assistance and employment opportunities. Since 2002, Bolivia has been acknowledged internationally as working towards the sustainable harvesting of forest resources and received, that same year, the “Gift to the Earth”, a recognition awarded by WWF for the first one million certified hectares. In the following three years, Bolivia duplicated its certified extension, which to date covers over 2.2 million hectares of tropical forest certified under the FSC logo. Of the 16 certified forest operations, 13 are forest concessions, two are private properties, and one is an Indigenous communal land.

The certified operations are primarily located within the Southwest Amazon, one of WWF’s Global 200 priority eco-regions worldwide.

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