Gobiernos municipales y bosques en las tierras bajas de Bolivia

Abstract

Having analysed the decentralisation policies of the Bolivian government and the recent transfer of responsibilities to the municipalities with regard to forest management, four case studies are described: Ascension de Guarayos, Rurrenabaque, Villa Tunari y San Ignacio de Velasco. The results show that although decentralisation has opened new possibilities for previously marginalised groups, those groups have not taken sufficient advantage of it. The studies also reveal that small-scale forest industries have not taken advantage of potentially better access to forest resources offered by the municipalities, due to institutional, technical and organisational impediments. The ability of municipal governments to deal with forest issues continues to be limited despite their interest in sustainable forest management. It is unlikely that in the near future the municipalities will contribute to the reduction of deforestation, better permitting procedures or the development of small-scale forest industries.