WWFolio Bolivia

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Informative publication on WWF’s work in Bolivia Edition Nr. 8 – January 2007

The forests are of everyone´sinterest and belong to us all

Living in the city makes it easy to forget, ignoreor even deny the value and use of forests.Frequently we identify forests as an insipid,distant and confusing mass, and as areas thathave to be cleared to make way forneighbourhoods and cities. Ironically, those thatlive in the city, and not those in the countryside,make the most use of the forest by consumingits products or those produced at the expenseof deforestation, such as agriculture and cattleranching. It is us, the urban inhabitants, whomost benefit from the functions provided byforests in terms of climate regulation, waterproduction and their aesthetic values that offerrecreational activities, contemplation, as well astheir multiple, varied and unsuspected ecosystemservices.

This obvious ascertainment, yet rarely taken intoconsideration, is what has motivated WWF tobecome seriously involved in an initiative topromote awareness among citizens of the maincities in Bolivia in terms of the footprint thatindividually or collectively is left on forests. Thisinitiative is known as “Cities for Forests”, a newinstitutional initiative that promotes the responsiblepurchases of forest products. Through thisinitiative we hope that a wide range of actors –from the common citizen to the large companies,municipal governments and other public entities– adopt purchasing policies that gradually allowthem to substitute their habitual purchase offorest products from illegal forests withoutmanagement, and replace it with the purchaseof products from forests under management,and, ideally, certified.

Editorial

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© WWF / Gustavo YBARRA

By simply demanding wood from forests that areunder management or certified, each one of uscan make a significant contribution to theconservation of forests for our children andgrandchildren.

The forests are of everyone´s interest and belongto all of us. And all of us, timber concessionaires,farm owners, peasants, indigenous and cityinhabitants should form an alliance so thattogether we can make the most responsible useof our forests. The national government also hasto fulfill its role and begin with not destroying aforest scheme that, with more qualities thandefects, has become a model worldwide.

During this holiday season please take a fewmoments to think about what you, your family,company or municipality can do to join thisinitiative and reduce impacts on forests. Whilelooking at your Christmas tree, think also aboutthe forests, and, imbued in the holiday spirit,propose to be a year with respect for the forests.

Adolfo MorenoConservation Director

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Exuberante bosque amazónico

PantanalTowards a better fishing managementGerman Busch Fishermen’s Cooperative

After three years of operating and a clear sign of organizationalstrengthening, the German Busch Fishermen’s Cooperative,along with FaunAgua and WWF, carried out an evaluationprocess of the fishing management during this period.

Among the points proposed for consideration in this evaluationwas the Fishing Management Plan for the Bolivian Pantanalfinanced by WWF, recognized and considered by theCooperative as a document that guides the activities for thefishing management and as an instrument that strengthensfishing activities, an important sustainable economic activityfor the sector. Another point to evaluate was the RegionalFishing Council, which brings together representatives fromcivil society and institutions from the Pantanal region and

which was born in the heart of the Management Plan in viewof the need to organize themselves in a board of directorsthat represents and integrates the interests of the fishermenin the region.

In general terms, this analysis allowed to establish the basisfor improved future management for this participatory process,considering the positive aspect that the construction of thissocial, inclusive and participatory process during these threeyears has allowed them to gain public recognition, greatervisibility and participation in the public administration throughthe municipality, protected area management committees aswell as the local Surveillance Committee.

For further information please contact: Pamela Rebolledo;prebolledo@wwfbolivia.org

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Fisherman in a beautiful sunrise in the Bolivian Pantanal© Faunagua

Women and their participationthrough the Women’s Committee

The Women’s Committee was formed under thissame framework and with assistance from theFishermen’s Cooperative. This initiative not onlypromotes the organization of women artisans,but also their products, as well as the processof sharing between artisan associations fromthis municipality and others in the region. Theyhave also gained public recognition andparticipated in local and regional events (Tradeand Exhibit Fair in Santa Cruz, 2006, Trade andExhibit Fair in Pantanal, 2006, and several fishfairs in Puerto Suárez), reaffirming gender equalityand the right of women to participate in eventsor activities that have been predominantly carriedout by men. Lastly, the internal organization ofthis Committee was strengthened allowing themto successfully exhibit and market their products.

For 2007, the Women’s Committee proposes tobegin processing fish leather as well as improveother handicrafts.

For further information please contact: Pamela Rebolledo;prebolledo@wwfbolivia.org

Towards tri-national fishing management

In October, a tri-national fishing management meeting was organized,in which WWF Bolivia participated, together with its partner the NGOFaunAgua, WWF Brazil and the Brazilian Company for Farming andAnimal Husbandry Research (Embrapa), the German BuschFishermen’s Cooperative, the Regional Fishing Council and variousfishermen’s associations from Brazil.

As a result of this meeting, a work agenda was developed constructinga process for tri-national fishing agreements for 2007 and creatingopportunities for dialogue and planning among the different actors,as well as considering public, national, departmental and local actors.

The tri-national fishing agreements also contemplate the activeparticipation of WWF in terms of facilitating information that contributesto the development of the National Fishing Law yet considering theinherent aspects of the Pantanal.

For further information please contact: Pamela Rebolledo; prebolledo@wwfbolivia.org

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© Faunagua

Following the Project for Strengthening EnvironmentalManagement in the Municipalities of the Pantanal, implementedby the Bolivian Society for Environmental Law (SBDA) andfinanced by WWF, as informed in the WWFolio Nr. 7, theMunicipality of Puerto Quijarro has taken its first steps increating the Municipal Unit for the Environment and NaturalResources, aiming to undertake the proposed developmentprojects for the region.

Mr. Aldo Clavijo, Mayor for Puerto Quijarro, expressed hisconcern regarding the environmental impacts that will begenerated by the proposed construction of these projects,which present a challenge and made necessary the creationof the Environmental Unit to focus on an integrateddevelopment planning. Thus, “the municipality wants to beprepared for the environmental impacts and aims forsustainable development in the region”, said Clavijo.

As a result of the work carried out by the SBDA, the MunicipalGovernment developed and approved the MunicipalEnvironmental Regulation, whose objective is the responsiblemanagement of toxic waste, sewage and mud; as well asproviding waste containers, controlling environmental noiseand ensuring correct functioning of high tension power linesand antennas, among others.

“The creation of the Municipal Unit for the Environment andNatural Resources required five months of hard work and theimplementation of the Municipal Environmental ManagementSystem applied to this unit is only the beginning of a seriesof results that are hoped to be reached with this project”,emphasized Diego Gutiérrez, Executive Director of the SBDA.

For further information please contact: Pamela Rebolledo;prebolledo@wwfbolivia.org

Environmental Management System inthe Municipality of Puerto Quijarro

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© SBDA Office of the Municipal Unit for the Environment and Natural Resources in Puerto Quijarro Municipality

AmazonCommunications Strategy for theI ténez–Mamoré Cor r idor (C IM)

Aiming to guide and provide greater visibility to WWF activities in theCIM (Bolivian Amazon), as well as for the projects and actions carriedout on behalf of partners, WWF has developed a communicationsstrategy that identifies, designs and plans opportunities for disseminationamong the local and regional inhabitants.

The first step was to carry out a diagnosis in order to identifygaps and demands on behalf of the target audiences (localcommunities, authorities, partners, leaders, media and generalpublic) and, from there, be able to determine the interventionstrategies for communications-education, responding to thelocal request for improved environmental quality in benefit of

cu r ren t and fu tu reinhabitants.

The implementation of initialactivities is part of thisstrategy and which werecarried out with great

success: implementation of an Itinerant InformationCenter and the training of adolescents in the communities as localreporters/correspondents for the informative bulletin “Iténez’s Voice”.

We invite you to learn more about this initiative through thereporting work carried out by a 9 year old girl from thecommunity of Versalles.

For further information please contact: Lila Sainz; lsainz@wwfbolivia.org

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© WWF / Eduardo RUIZ

The expression of a local little girl

“A battery for a piece of candy” Campaign

With unprecedented success, park guards from the Iténez PA are carryingout a project to collect used batteries from the surrounding communitiesof the Iténez PA. WWF, which is collaborating in the initiative, supportedby providing information regarding the toxicity and contaminating potentialof batteries which, if incorrectly disposed of and / or stored, can causeserious problems and sickness, not to mention dangerously contaminatingthe environment.

Joselo Maniobó Aguilar, a 14 year old student from the community of PuertoChávez, wrote us indicating “through these types of initiatives we not onlyprotect our health, but also the environment, by keeping it clean and healthy.We have learned that it is not good to burn or deforest and it is alsoimportant to dispose of garbage appropriately”.

For further information please contact: Lila Sainz; lsainz@wwfbolivia.org

A glider converted in“Iténez’s Voice”

In October, WWF began a communicationprocess within the surrounding communities ofthe Iténez Protected Area (PA) as a start up tothe implementation of the CIM communicationsstrategy. The effort began with an ItinerantInformation Center under the name of “Iténez’sVoice”, a glider or flat bottomed boat thattransports news, information, videos, prizesand fun activities that promote the protectionof the environment and improving the qualityof life of the communities.

This activity, to be periodically repeated during2007, travelled to four communities in the Iténezwatershed: Bella Vista, Puerto Chávez, Versallesand Mateguá, offer ing informat ionalpresentat ions, v ideos and theatr icalpresentations using animals from the region,among others.

For further information please contact: Lila Sainz;lsainz@wwfbolivia.org

COMMON BATTERIES(contain Zinc and Carbon)Commonly used inflashlightsEach battery cancontaminate up to 3,000litres of water

ALKALINE BATTERIES(contain Manganese)Each battery cancontaminate up to 175,000litres of water, more thanwhat one human beingconsumes in its entire life

BUTTONCELL BATTERIES(contain Mercury)Commonly used in watchesEach battery cancontaminate up to 600,000litres of water!

Contaminating potential of batteries when they are not disposed of properly

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© WWF / Mauricio BARBA An Iténez park guard changes batteries for candy

© WWF / Mariana MACHICAO A disguised park guard

Conclusion of the Forest & Life ProjectIntegral Vision for the Development of the Amazon

The Forest & Life Project concluded its pilot phase in September. Led byWWF and a consortium of five other international organizations (CARE,CI – Conservation International – SNV – Dutch Service for Cooperationand Development – TBI – Tropenbos International – and TNC – The NatureConservancy), the project focused primarily at optimizing the economicbenefits of the Amazon forest.

The work during these past 23 months in the border municipalities of theAmazon region of Pando (Bolivia), Madre de Dios (Peru) and Acre (Brazil),aimed to:

• Design a proposal for the mid term for the sustainable management ofthe forest with the participation of relevant actors in the management ofnatural resources in Madre de Dios, Acre and Pando

• Strengthen and articulate the administration of the land at the municipallevel as a replicable pilot experience

• Strengthen the competitiveness and participation of social actors in theproductive chain for products forthcoming from forests under sustainablemanagement, especially for Brazil nut

• Strengthen capacities of local actors involved with the Project.

What is remarkable about this experience is that it was possible to workin a coordinated manner with partners, local governments, socialorganizations, public and private entities at both the regional and nationallevel in the three countries encompassed by the Project.

Forest & Life offered both a meeting and learning opportunity among actorsfrom the three countries as well as promoting the initiation of planningprocesses and formalizing the use of forest resources; it also strengthenedcapacities among local partners in terms of the sustainable managementof the forest, among others.

Among the final beneficiaries of this Project we can mention the indigenouscommunities, business initiatives on behalf of women, actors in the valuechain for Brazil nut and general population and authorities in variousmunicipalities.

For further information please contact: Favio Ríos; frios@wwfbolivia.org

Pando has a Decentralized Unitfor the Administration of itsProtected Areas

WWF Bolivia, with funding from the Gordon andBetty Moore Foundation, supports themanagement of protected areas and thesustainable management of resources in theBolivian Amazon.

An important achievement has been theconformation of the Decentralized Unit forProtected Areas (referred to in Bolivia as UDAP),dependent upon the Prefecture for theDepartment of Pando, with whom WWF hassigned an agreement for strengthening this unitand for the management of the Bruno RacuaNatural Wildlife Reserve, aiming to efficientlyadminister the protected area and the resourcesreceived on behalf of the Prefecture.

For further information please contact: Favio Ríos;frios@wwfbolivia.org

The UDAP in Pando was created in 2006 underthe Prefectural Resolution Nr. 058/06, and basedupon the political, institutional and social contextof Pando and allowing to carry forward conservationand sustainable development actions in the BrunoRacua PA.

Note:

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© WWF / Boris URQUIZO

LIVING PUBLICATIONS

Publications that systematize the Forest & Lifeexperience

With the finalization of the pilot phase of the Forest & Life Project, fundedby the Embassy of the Netherlands, a series of four publications wereproduced offering information on the processes that were promoted forthe sustainable use of the forest and land use management at themunicipal levels, as well as lessons learned that can serve as a foundationfor future experiences.

Strategic guidelines for the development ofBio-commerce in PandoThis document identifies current products and potentials for bio-commerce,giving priority to those with the greatest potential such as fish farming,medicinal products and those used for making cosmetics or handicrafts,among others.

Feasibility study for Fish Farming in PandoThis study contributed in identifying the lines of action oriented atimproving the food security and mitigation of poverty in the Departmentof Pando through the fish farming of native species based on the conceptof bio-commerce.

Complete and summarized illustrated versionof the Municipal Plan on Land Use Regulationfor the Municipalities Association “Filadelfia-Bolpebra Amazon Union” (MUAFB)

These documents describe the appropriate use of the land encompassedby the municipalities of Filadelfia and Bolpebra in Pando, focusing onthe sustainable development of the region and conserving and usingthe natural resources in an organized and planned manner. The fullversion of the document is geared towards a specialized audience whilethe summary version is geared towards the general inhabitants of theMUAFB.

For further information please contact: Favio Ríos; frios@wwfbolivia.org

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Forests

The Ist International Sculptors Workshopsuccessfully took place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.The event was promoted by WWF Bolivia undertwo of its initiatives - Cities for Forests and theUn Árbol Bolivia Project. The Workshop was co-organized with Manzana 1 Art Space as well asthe Municipal Government of Santa Cruz de laSierra.

Eight sculptors from different countriesparticipated in the Workshop and for one weekworked “live” in front of the general publicproducing their individual objects of art. Theartists that participated were: Juan Bustillos,León Saavedra, Claribel Catoira and CarolinaSanjinés from Bolivia, Aldo Shiroma and KarenMacher from Peru, Chalo Tulian from Argentinaand Gustavo Beckelmann from Paraguay – allof the artists used pieces from the Carinianaestrellensis tree from the Un Árbol Bolivia Project.

The massive coverage given by both the printedpress and TV during the week of the Workshopwas key in announcing the event to the generalpublic and sparking their interest – this led toapproximately 100,000 individuals visiting theevent. Without a doubt, the Workshop createdawareness among the local population in generalregarding the need to sustainably use thecountry’s forest resources and, at the same time,promoting the responsible purchase of forestproducts.

Ist International SculptorsWorkshop in Santa Cruz de laSierra

The finished sculpture of the Bolivian Juan Bustillos© María Luisa HOYOS

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The Workshop in and of itself created great enthusiasmamong the wood sector, who voluntarily offered woodfor another event. This enthusiasm was shared byother sectors, making it possible that this activity canbecome a biennial event, not to mention its positioningon the cultural agenda of Santa Cruz.

The sculptures will be used to embellish the soon tobe forest certification walkway, which will be locatedin Santa Cruz, a joint undertaking between theMunicipal Government and WWF Bolivia under theself proclamation last April of the municipality as the“world capital of certified natural tropical forests”.

For further information please contact: Valia Carvalho,unarbol@wwfbolivia.org

© María Luisa HOYOS The finished sculpture of the Bolivians Carolina Sanjinés y Claribel Catoira

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© María Luisa HOYOS The Peruvian Aldo Shiroma working on his sculpture

Promoting sustainable businessbetween communities andcompanies

The First Business-Community Roundtable ofBolivia’s Wood Industry, organized by the BolivianForestry Chamber and Cainco (Santa Cruz Industryand Commerce Chamber), was held last Octoberand sought to bring together and promote thedevelopment of sustainable business betweencommunities and companies in the Departmentof Santa Cruz. A total of 13 communities and 24companies participated.

The event also created viable alternatives for thecommercialization of timber products form thecommunities for 2007, such as commercialagreements and strategic alliances that guaranteethe supply of raw material for the wood industrywith fair prices for wood forthcoming fromcommunity forest enterprises.

WWF supported the event by making possible the participationof representatives from nine communities in the IndigenousCommunal Lands (referred to in Bolivia as TCO) Guarayos,Monteverde, Cibapa and Zapocó, who were able to negotiatealmost 400,000 USD in business transactions. An interestingaspect resulting from the event was the introduction of newconcepts on behalf of the buyers towards the communities,in terms of their conditions for buying such as “forestcertification” and “controlled wood”.

Also, as a result of the meeting, the community of San Juanfrom the Guarayos TCO was able to establish an agreementwith the company Cimal for the future sale of wood to beharvested in 2007. For this, Cimal committed itself in supportingthe forest census for the area to be harvested in 2007. Thisagreement represents an income of approximately 50,000USD.

Cimal also confirmed continued business with the communityof Cururú through the intention of a future purchase of 30,000USD from their 2007 harvest. The management plan forCururú was recently evaluated under the Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) standards and positive results are expectedconsidering the efforts on behalf of this community.

Both business transactions are for felled and blunted trees,and which generated approximately 90 jobs in bothcommunities. The other communities are also negotiatingpotential business deals.

For further information please contact: Jessica Moscoso;jmoscoso@wwfbolivia.org

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© CFB Wood sale contract signature between San Juan community and Cimal company

Promotion of the Bolivia FTN and itsparticipting members

The Bolivia Forest and Trade Network (Bolivia FTN) participatedin the seminar organized by the Belgian association FairTimber entitled “FSC today and tomorrow: South Americaopportunities and obstacles for the Belgian and Europeantimber market”. The trip was also an opportunity to informupon the objectives, goals and activities of the Bolivia FTN,as well as connect with markets aimed at promoting theBolivian supply of certified wood with the European companies.

“It was extremely useful to participate and present the supplyof certified Bolivian wood, as well as inform upon the profilesof the member companies of the Bolivia FTN to potential

buyers from the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium andthe UK”, stated Ms. María del Carmen Carreras,Coordinator of the Bolivia FTN.

These meetings allowed for business contacts withthe wood industry in Belgium, such as the company“Fortim Trading - International Forwarding & TimberAgency”, an importer and wholesale distribute ofwood to the Belgian and Dutch market, as wellas “Dekker Holland - Elephant Timber”, a companythat manufactures decoration accessories forgardens, blinds and doors. In addition, the boardof directors of the Association of Wood Importersof Spain expressed special interest in that itspartners initiate contact with Bolivian businessmen,considering it is the leading country in terms ofcertified natural forests. “We are also interested

in learning about new species offered by Bolivia”, indicatedMr. Alberto Romero, manager of the Association.

The result of this effort is also that meetings have beenscheduled with Bolivian representatives to explore commercialpossibilities regarding the supply of the member companiesof the Bolivia FTN: Mabet, La Chonta, SumaPacha, AnatinaToys and Jolyka, among others.

For further information please contact: María del Carmen Carreras,mcarreras@wwfbolivia.org

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© FTN Bolivia FTN Coordinator meeting with a Spanish bussinesman

Thanks to coordination between our partnerApcob in Concepción and WWF, the ZapocóTechnical Forestry Council was implemented,the first of its kind, in September, 2006. TheCouncil is a participation and dialogue entity sothat the actors involved in the General ForestryManagement Plan (PGMF) for the Zapocó TCOcan coordinate their actions and make decisionsin favor of the sustainability of the forest. To date,the Council has held five meetings resulting ina participatory synergy among its actors,especially between the private companies andthe community.

The participants expressed total satisfaction withhow the Council was performing, which servedto confirm the following improvements:opportunity for dialogue enabled makinginformation transparent, follow up to contracts

for the sale and purchase of wood primarily withthe companies Petunos and Mague, effectivecoordination (company – community) toimplement harvest activities, fulfillment of currentnorms and delivery of wood on behalf of thecommunity to the buyers, disbursements onbehalf of the buyers, planning of monthly activities, implementation of specific recommendationsmade by the Forest Superintendence and theMunicipal Forestry Unit from Concepción, amongothers.

These results point towards the sustainability ofthe Zapocó Community Forest Enterprise andare an example that can be duplicated by othercommunities.

For further information please contact: Marcelo Ruiz;mruiz@wwfbolivia.org

The Zapocó Technical Forestry Council: Dialogue to promote afavorable implementation of the General Forestry Management Plan

Objectives of the Council

- Promote extraction in all of its phases and components (forest, accounting and social)

- Make information transparent regarding the harvest

- Guarantee the investment on behalf of wood buyers

- Manage and commit financial and institutionalresources to ensure the activities and actions.

Who makes up the Council-- Concepción Forest Super intendence- Concepción Municipal Forestry Unit- Zapocó Community Forest Enterprise- Companies that buy wood- WWF- Apcob

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© Apcob Wood sale contract signature between Zapocó community and Petunos company

Established in 2000, Cadefor is a non-profit organizationbased in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It aims to provideservices in business management, technical assistance andsupport in marketing / communications to the certified forestsector in the Amazon watershed.

Cadefor’s mission is to assist the private forestry sector andcommunity forest enterprises in Bolivia and other countriesin the Amazon region to help them achieve the potential oftheir forests, as well as to successfully reach markets that arecommitted to the environment and sustainable forestmanagement.

Cadefor offers technical assistance and services inmanagement, transformation, commercialization and marketingof timber species to ensure their appropriate use in accordancewith specifications of each species such as, for example:

- Improve efficiency and productivity in processes related toprimary and secondary transformation

- Seek and promote markets for the export of certified forestproducts

- Facilitate the conformation of strategic alliances among thewood business sector and community forest enterprises

- Identify wood species- Assist in the drying process of wood, as well as adjust dryingprograms and installation of kilns.

Cadefor is currently part of a consortium, together with TNC,that is implementing the Bolfor II Project.

Through a strategic alliance established in 2004 betweenCadefor and WWF Bolivia, both organizations have beenimplementing in the Guarayos Province a forestry trainingprogram for the indigenous communities which have operationsharvesting at the commercial level.

For further information please contact: rguzman@cadefor.org (www.cadefor.org)

OUR PARTNERS

Amazonian Center for Sustainable Forest Enterprise (Cadefor)

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Practical experiences on the ground© WWF / Orlando MELGAREJO

More

WWF Bolivia and itsnew web site

Recognizing that every day more and morepeople turn to the Internet seeking informationand service, WWF Bol iv ia joined i tscommunications and technical efforts toconsolidate and publish information regardingits programs, projects and act ivi t ies.

Located in the international domain of WWF(www.panda.org), WWF Bolivia is confident thiswill be an important tool in support of itsconservation and sustainable development workcarried out under its three programs: Pantanal,Forests and Amazon.

Please visit us at www.panda.org/bolivia

WWFOLIO • 17

New site: www.panda.org/bolivia

Course on tropical Andeanbutterflies in Bolivia

The Sajta Valley in Cochabamba was the siteselected in December, 2006, to carry out apreliminary week long course focused on studyingthe biology, ecology, taxonomy and other relatedresearch aspects for tropical Andean butterflies,as well as field research study methods.

The course is part of the Tropical Andean ButterflyDiversity Project which is being carried out forthree years in Andean countries such asColombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador,including Bolivia, with support from internationalscientists, organizations working in diurnalbutterfly research in the tropical Andean region.

WWF Bolivia supported the initiative, which wasled by the Noel Kempff Mercado Museum ofNatural History, considering that Bolivia is animportant area for butterflies especially for thosefound in the tropical Andes due to their highbiodiversity and endemism.

It is hoped that this course will support the AndeanButterfly Project by increasing interest in thestudy of tropical Andean butterflies, motivating,training and supporting local students in eachcountry in the Andean region and establishingfuture links with butterfly conservation througha network of researches and others.

Curious information

Insects dominate the percentages in terms of the planet’s biodiversity. Thus it is notsurprising that butterflies are considered one of the best groups of potential indicatorsfor biodiversity conservation due to the degree of existing information, relative ease intheir identification and value in raising awareness regarding conservation with the public

at large.

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Morpho godarti in its larva stage (Andean butterfly)© Julieta LEDEZMA

On November 6th and 7th, Santa Cruz hostedthe third National Park Guard Meeting, in whicha representative from the International ParkGuard Federation participated, Mr. Ronald Mora,as well as the Director for Bolivia’s NationalService for Protected Areas (Sernap), Mr. AdriánNogales, and directors from various protectedareas in Bolivia, park guards from the NationalSystem for Protected Areas (SNAP) and parkguards invited from Paraguay, Argentina, Chileand Brazil, among others.

Among the proposed objectives for this III Meetingwas the development of an action plan that willallow the park guards to be better representedin the SNAP and thus enable them to face newchallenges encountered in conservation and themanagement of Bolivia’s protected areas.

Previous meetings held in 2001 and 2003established the foundation for the creation andconsolidation of the Bolivian Association ofConservation Agents (Abolac) with more than400 members and also allowed the affiliation withthe International Federation of Park Guards (FIG).

WWF collaborated with this III Meeting, as it didwith some in the past and other initiativespresented by the Bolivian park guards, believingit is important to strengthen Abolac as an entitythat brings together the spokespersons andguardians of the country’s rich natural and culturalheritage.

For further information please contact: Javier Zeballos Ruiz,President of Abolac and Head of Park Guards, OtuquisProtected Area

GUARDIANS OF OURCULTURAL AND NATURALPATRIMONY

III National Park Guard Meeting

© Abolac

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Edition: WWF Bolivia • Graphic design: Barbián Comunicación

WWF BoliviaAv. Beni, calle Los Pitones 2070Tel.: +591-3-3430609Fax: +591-3-3430406Santa Cruz, Boliviawwfbol iv ia@wwfbol iv ia.orgwww.panda.org/bolivia

WWFThe global conservation organization

WWF’s ultimate goal is to stop and eventually reverse environmental degradation and to build afuture where people live in harmony with nature. Our promise to the world is that through workingtogether, we will find the best solutions to save nature. For more than 40 years our passion,commitment, and inspiring actions have made us the most recognized independent conservationorganization on Earth.

On Saturday September 23rd,2006, seven staff members fromWWF and other passengers on ahelicopter suffered a terribletragedy in Nepal that led to theirdeath.

The helicopter was returning fromthe community of Ghunsa, wherethe seven WWF staff membersand other individuals hadparticipated in a ceremony in whichNepal's Government turned overconservation of the wildlife andh a b i t a t s s u r r o u n d i n gKangchenjunga - the world's thirdhighest mountain - to a coalitionof local communities.

“The colleagues that were losthave dedicated their lives toconserving the extraordinarynatural resources in Nepal and theworld”, indicated Mr. James Leape,General Director for WWFInternational. “Their deaths meana great loss for these conservationefforts in Nepal and the world. Wewill miss them very much.”

This was the greatest loss inhuman lives in WWF´s 45 yearexistence.

For further information please visit:www.panda.org/nepal

WWF Bolivia adheres to condolences forcolleagues in Nepal

The seven WWF colleagues that lost their lives in Nepal last September were:

• Dr. Chandra Prasad Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal, 57 years old, Nepalese

• Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Managing Director, Eastern Himalayas, WWF US, 51 years old, Nepalese

• Dr. Harka Gurung, Advisor, WWF Nepal, Nepalese• Yeshi Choden Lama, Senior Program Officer, WWF Nepal, Nepalese• Dr. Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer, Conservation Director, WWF UK, 49 years old,

Australian• Jennifer Headley, Coordinator, Eastern Himalayas, WWF UK, 34 years old• Matthew Preece , Program Off icer, Eastern Himalayas, WWF US

Kanchenjunga National Park, south-eastern side of the Kanchenjunga peak (8,586 m).© WWF-Canon / NEYRET & BENASTAR