Project/activity information

The project's development objective envisaged contributing to the sustainable development of the Latin American forest resources through the broadest possible dissemination of forestry concepts, experiences and technologies. Specific activities included: The implementation of a regional forestry network; the publication of 8 issues of the quarterly journal "Bosques y Desarrollo"; and the organization of forestry-related conferences, seminars and courses.

The Project was completed in April 2000. Achievements can be summarized as follows:
- National Editorial Councils were formed in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela;
- 9 issues of the quarterly journal "Bosques y Desarrollo" were prepared, edited, published and distributed (issues Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18/19, 20/21, 22). Print runs averaged 5,000 copies per issue. However, the maximum number of paying subscribers peaked at 320;
- A "National Workshop on Information and Communication related to Natural Renewable Resources" was organized and held in Lima, Peru on March 26, 1996. All Peruvian sectors related to the sustainable development of natural resources, including public administration, industry and trade organizations, environmental NGOs, universities, technical schools and special projects participated;
- The Natural Renewable Resources Information and Communication Service (SIFOCOM BBS) was developed via the Internet in Peru and Ecuador and was operational for a couple of years. It was also launched in Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela, but was unsuccessful. The Peruvian SIFOCOM produced 133 electronic bulletins in total, while its counterpart in Ecuador produced 53; and
- A homepage named "Bosques" was developed on the internet to further disseminate the articles published by the journal and other regional forestry-related activities.

Project activities were mainly disseminated through the aforementioned quarterly journals, bulletin broadcast services and a homepage. These provided for a wide dissemination throughout Latin America.

Overall, the project contributed towards the dissemination of forestry knowledge throughout Latin America, on topics such as reforestation, agroforestry, participatory forestry, and silvopastoral and forest conservation and management practices. It appears, however, that the project never achieved financial self-sufficiency and that the project's activities have been discontinued once ITTO funding ceased.