Assessment of Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) in Bolivia

Considering the current context of Bolivia, in which indigenous communities are receiving more attention in the policy making process regarding the distribution of lands, natural resource management and participation in development projects, the present document aims to analyze the effect of different political and socio-economic events, such as the change in policies regarding the Bolivian forest sector, in the Tacana community's structure and cultural identity. I also pretend to show the potential that the Tacana communities still have regarding forest management, to go further in their development process and preserve their ethnical roots and forests. The conclusions of this work are mainly positive, showing that CBFM has a potential to bring development to indigenous communities, while preserving the environment, but there are still many obstacles and new aspects to be considered for future policy implementations, as well as a long way ahead for communities to obtain the expected benefit, without their culture and livelihoods being negatively affected.

Autorentext

Carola Mejia, Master in Development Studies at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS). Studied Economics at the Bolivian Catholic University. Assistant in the fields of Economics and Cooperation at the Korean Republic Embassy in Bolivia.