FLEGT in Bolivia

On behalf of the EU, the European Forest Institute (EFI) EU FLEGT Facility, which supports the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan, undertook a first exploratory mission to Bolivia in April 2010. Exploratory missions aim to provide information on FLEGT and VPAs and assess the situation.

Around one third of the countries’ timber export goes to the EU, making Bolivia one of the largest timber exporters to the EU in Latin America in percentage terms. The country’s efforts to eliminate illegal timber have been highlighted as exemplary. Bolivian laws have increasingly become more equitable, simple, unambiguous and accessible, and they foresee ‘whistleblower’ actions by citizens. Private citizens can therefore be directly involved in forest law enforcement by using a special authorisation - granted by the forestry administration-, allowing them to inspect forest operations.

The high percentage of Bolivian timber exports tow the EU and the ongoing national efforts to improve forest governance make the country a prime candidate for a VPA. Information talks are expected to continue.