Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

forest certification in bolivia
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Markets
The Bolivian forest sector contributes only 3 percent of the Gross Internal Product
but 11 percent of foreign exports (STCP 2000). About 50 percent of the industry’s
productivity is export-related, which is why certification has been welcomed by the
timber industry. In 2002 the Forest Service authorized an allowable cut of 581,782 m3
(see Figure 1 for authorization by stakeholder), but Castello and Roca (2002) indicate
that in reality 1.1 million m3 of timber is cut each year. The difference may be
explained by illegal harvesting, which is severely affecting legal timber business
through its unfair competition.
Figure 1
Volume authorized by the Forest Service in 2002, by stakeholder
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Indigenous
lands
ASL
Other
permissions
Clearing Concessions Private lands
Type of right
Source: Superintendencia Forestal 2003
According to CFB (2003), in 2002 the value of exports was US$88.2 million. The
main products exported included Brazil nuts (US$ 28 million), boards (US$ 20.3 million),
doors (US$ 13 million), chairs (US$ 4.4 million), furniture (US$ 3 million), and
others.
A total of 45 species were exported. The main species were: Cedrela spp. (US$ 11.3
million), Swietenia macrophylla (US$ 8.3 million), Amburana cearensis (US$ 8.14
million), Cedrelinga catenaeformis (US$ 6 million). Other important species were
Cariniana spp, Machaerium spp, Hura crepitans and Ficus spp. The main markets
were USA (US$ 42.6 million), UK (US$ 15.6 million), México (US$ 6.6 million), Chile
(US$ 3.43 million) and the Netherlands (US$ 2.3 million). Other significant markets
included Germany, Italy, France, Perú and Argentina.
The dependence on foreign exports and the presence of environmentally sensitive
markets have together contributed to the certification boom in Bolivia. According to
the manager of La Chonta concession, a certified operation, forest certification is an
opportunity for the Bolivian timber industry but it is not truly voluntary because it
has been imposed by the current international green-labeling trend (Antelo 2000).
yale school of forestry & environmental studies