Biodiversity Conservation GEF I & II Projects, Bolivia
Case Study C0197
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| Date | April 2004 |
| Agency | World Bank |
| Donor/support agency | GEF |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Bolivia |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Local communities |
| Conservation goals | Conserve the biodiversity of significant ecosystems in Bolivia |
| Poverty reduction goals | Promote sustainable natural resources management as an economic and social development alternative for communities in and around protected areas |
Summary
With 190 ecosystems comprising 24 biogeographic domains and various watershed systems, Bolivia ranks among the 8 most biodiverse nations on the planet. To preserve this rich biota and its ecological processes, landscape resources, and archeological and cultural treasures, Bolivia has created some 66 protected areas since 1939, now taking up close to 15% of its territory. 19 of these areas are being managed under the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) as representative ecosystems of national and regional importance. Many of the 60 municipalities that overlap or adjoin these protected terrains heavily rely for their subsistence on natural resources inside the areas, either directly (logging, stock-raising, water resources, microclimate drivers, etc.) or as local development alternatives (ecotourism, crafts, etc.).
Global Environment Facility (GEF) assistance has been instrumental in the SNAP’s organization and consolidation. The first GEF-funded project, launched in 1993, was entitled 'Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation in Protected Areas in Bolivia'. It was followed by the SNAP Sustainability Project (GEF II) launched in 2001. Through its support, GEF has helped the country build and solidify the SNAP, with the two-fold aim of achieving global environmental goals and improving the lives of local communities. In particular, the GEF has directed its support toward specific components that are fundamental for the SNAP’s organization and consolidation: conserve priority representative ecosystems of great importance for biodiversity conservation in Bolivia; develop conceptual, policy, and institutional frameworks for management of the SNAP and of individual protected areas; lay foundations for sustainable natural resources management as an economic and social development alternative for communities in and around protected areas; generate sustainable financing mechanisms.
In terms of the above mentioned objectives, GEF I and GEF II have achieved some impressive results, contributing to local and global benefits that go well beyond the pursuit of biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, three fundamental elements were missing for GEF I and II to be termed a complete success: a solid legal foundation for the SNAP; a national environmental fund to guarantee the SNAP’s long-range sustainability; and a biodiversity monitoring system that could be the SNAP’s pivotal management focus.
Conservation impact
The following are some GEF I and GEF II success highlights:
- Safeguarding of collectively used lands and natural resources has improved thanks to legally mandated protected-area monitoring and compliance activities
- Permanent supply of fresh water of adequate quality and quantity was obtained in numerous areas
Poverty reduction impact
The following are some GEF I and GEF II success highlights:
- A conceptual, policy, regulatory, and operational framework for SNAP management has been developed, as well as an institutional base for the SNAP
- Local participation and capacity building processes were strengthened, together with community–based organizations
- An increase in economic activity (e.g. tourism) benefiting the region was achieved
- External funding has helped create livelihood opportunities for women especially in the craft trade
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Enabling local participation in policy-/decision- making processes
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Reference 2
http://gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfm?projID=620
Related records above this one:
- World Bank (Organisation O0145)
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Organisation O0026)