The certification of forest management serves as a strategy for complementarity between rural communities and forestry companies, promoting responsible management.

Abstract

The project for the certification of responsible forest management represents a comprehensive strategy that enhances the synergy between peasant communities and forestry companies, fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and technically robust management of forests. Through FSC certification, communities are established as key players in managing their resources, integrating technical knowledge, taking on operational responsibilities, and adhering to international standards. This model connects the ancestral experience of communities with the technological, organizational, and commercial support of a forestry company, achieving shared governance that is more resilient to environmental and territorial challenges.

In Bolivia, where approximately 70% of forest use rights belong to peasant and indigenous communities, the pressure on forests is exacerbated by land invasions, recurrent fires, uncontrolled agricultural expansion, and illegal logging. These threats undermine critical ecosystems and jeopardize the economic and territorial stability of families reliant on the forest. Furthermore, many communities encounter obstacles in accessing formal markets, which restricts their income and weakens their technical capacities to implement management practices aligned with international standards. In this context, FSC certification serves as a strategic tool to strengthen territorial rights, enhance access to differentiated markets, and create tangible incentives for ecosystem conservation.

The Bolivian Council for Voluntary Forest Certification CFV/FSC Bolivia is currently implementing a group certification project in collaboration with communities and forestry companies. This initiative incorporates key innovations, such as the application of the National Standard FSC-STD-BO-02-2024, the Continuous Improvement Procedure FSC-PRO-60-002, and the formal establishment of an FSC Group Entity. These measures aim to reduce costs, streamline processes, and facilitate collective certification. A notable success story is the company Manurini ECO Import Export, which achieved FSC certification in 2025 as a group entity representing several communities that supply it with timber. Leveraging its infrastructure, experience, and market knowledge, the company conducts internal audits, standardizes operational procedures, and ensures the traceability of all timber certified under license CU-FM/COC-904898.

Currently, the Manurini project encompasses 30,954.88 certified hectares across three communities in the municipality of Bella Flor, Pando: San Jorge, San Pedro, and Cocamita Santa Lourdes. All these communities have enhanced their local governance through active forestry committees, participatory self-assessment processes, and the gradual integration of women into leadership positions. These initiatives strengthen social cohesion and reinforce community leadership in forest management. The implemented traceability system ensures that all timber originates from certified areas that are managed responsibly, adhering to technical, environmental, and legal guidelines. Additionally, there is a focus on utilizing local inputs, which stimulates the community economy and reduces the environmental footprint.

The model exhibits significant potential for expansion. It is projected to incorporate an additional 30,000 hectares by 2026 within the same group entity, while other companies, such as Exomad and COLSER, have initiated similar processes inspired by the results achieved. The FSC certification provides access to specialized markets that recognize the environmental value of the product, resulting in better prices and greater economic stability for both the communities and the associated company. This financial performance contributes to the economic autonomy of families, enabling them to invest in their well-being and community infrastructure without compromising resource sustainability.

The technical viability of the project is supported by three fundamental pillars: legal security over community territories, social stability that allows for the continuity of operations, and ongoing training that enhances local capacities. Long-term contracts signed between the company and the communities foster trust, ensure reciprocal commitments, and guarantee the sustained responsible management of forests over time. Concurrently, training in traceability, management, conservation, and compliance with FSC standards establishes a solid foundation for consolidating community autonomy and active participation.

Socially, the project promotes inclusion and equity through the involvement of women and youth in forest committees, which increases internal legitimacy and supports shared decision-making. The public-private-community partnership strengthens a sustainable value chain where communities contribute ecological knowledge, while the company provides technology, logistics, and access to international markets. This alliance creates shared value and enhances the economic and environmental impact of the model.

The certification process carried out between June 2024 and September 2025 encompassed training workshops, pre-assessments, internal audits, a Five-Year Continuous Improvement Plan, and the submission of official documentation to the Certifying Entity. This process culminated in the formal inclusion of communities as members of the certified group.

The responsible team, composed of forestry professionals, community leaders, and the company Manurini ECO Import Export, integrates expertise in forest management, certification, wood processing, and both national and international marketing. Their socio-environmental commitment is essential to ensure the sustainability of the model.

In conclusion, the project illustrates that forest conservation can be economically viable when it incorporates responsible management, strengthened community organization, and markets that appreciate sustainability. The FSC certification emerges as an effective mechanism to enhance forest governance, generate sustainable income, protect strategic ecosystems, and establish a shared management approach that addresses the current challenges of climate change and sustainable rural development.