Background Information
Green Cross Bolivia was officially recognized in Glion on December 9, 1995 during a Green Cross International council meeting. GC Bolivia was founded by Dr. Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas, former President of the Republic of Bolivia.
The mission of GC Bolivia is to put into practice the objectives and principles of Green Cross International in the context of Bolivia taking into account the social, cultural and environmental characteristics of Bolivia and tackle local resource degradation issues throughout the country.
Objectives of GC Bolivia include:
• To support sustainable development in the country while finding ways to improve the standard of living of the Bolivian population;
• To contribute to education and change of values in Bolivian society with regard to environmental and social problems;
• To contribute to the improvement and effective application of the existing national and international legal arrangements relating to conservation of the environment, natural resources and the quality of life of all citizens;
• To contribute to the knowledge of the environment, including the importance of water, air, soils, plants and animals, specifically endangered species in different areas throughout the country;
• To promote conservation of resources in a sustainable manner through effective resource management and the sustainable use of all natural resources in Bolivia;
• To develop, implement and replicate international and national programs on the local, departmental, national and international levels.
National programs
In 2003, GC Bolivia was part of an independent technical team that completed a study of the “Monumento de Los Espejillos”, an area declared protected by the authorities of Santa Cruz. Based on the results of this study a project was developed, aimed to develop the ecotourism industry in the area. Sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, the project is now in its final stage and has had a positive impact on local economy and environmental situation of the region.
In 2004, Green Cross Bolivia received a grant from the World Bank via the support of the Ministry of Rural Affairs to initiate a Sustainable Craftsmanship and Ecotourism Project in San Antonia de Lomerio. The main purpose of the project was to help the indigenous community in finding solutions to increase access to water and improve sanitation systems.
GC Bolivia's National Sustainable Business Program is registered at the Ministry of Education as an institution of labor creation and capacity building. In this capacity, it received financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Ministry of Economy and was able to provide technical assistance to small businesses involved in crafts production, food production, and services. Following this experience, small businesses and entrepreneurs realized the importance and advantages of environmentally-friendly production and manufacturing methods.
Thanks to the financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank, the Ministry of Education and the PROLAC Foundation, GC Bolivia was able to launch a capacity-building program aimed at assisting unemployed youth that have abandoned the formal education system. The project was carried out in the cities of Santa Cruz and Trinidad.
In December 2004, GC Bolivia received a donation from GC Japan to begin a pilot project on basic sanitation in the community of San Antonio de Lomerio. The project involves the installation of 13 tanks for harvesting rainwater and 13 ecological latrines as well as training participants in the areas of water and system maintenance and hygiene. Thanks to a grant from Global Green USA, a video documenting the rainwater harvesting will be produced in the near future.
International programs
In addition to the "Restructuring and Rehabilitation" plan, new projects are now introduced such as the "Technical assistance in the communal management of forests" project and the "Development and categorization of the Rio Grande Masicuri reserve – sustainable ecotourism – sustainable cattle farming" project. GC Bolivia will begin implementation of the above projects and other (almost twenty in total) alongside other national offices in the GCI network.
GC Bolivia is participating in the Youth Contest. The organization has already contacted GC Argentina and Italy. Through this GC Bolivia will initiate greater coordination within the Green Cross network on future projects.
Communication and Events
• GC Bolivia concluded an Inter-institutional Cooperation Agreement with the State University Gabriel René Moreno, Peace Corps Bolivia and the municipal authorities of San Antonia de Lomerio and Porongo for the joint implementation of projects.
• GC Bolivia is part of the Sustainable Development and Environment Network, the Bolivian Network of Protected Areas, and the Anticorruption Network.
• In 2004, GC Bolivia opened a new affiliate office in the city of Trinidad, department of Beni.
