A new Scientific Journal on Forest Research in Bolivia

Abstract

Forests represent the natural heritage of every nation that possesses them. Bolivia takes pride in having a vast area of tropical forests that remain in good conservation status, with a significant portion managed sustainably for forest production. The economic value of forests is a largely overlooked topic within society, as they should not only be assessed based on the timber that can be harvested but also for the myriad of other products beyond wood, the environmental services they provide, and their role in maintaining and reproducing biodiversity in its fullest range. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that forests face significant threats such as deforestation and unplanned colonization, which facilitate land-use changes that expand agricultural and livestock areas in regions that should be subject to sustainable forest management.

Research on our forests has been robust since the 1990s, and this body of knowledge has served and continues to serve as the foundation for technical and political decision-making by the State in the pursuit of conservation and management. The current political context in Bolivia and neighboring countries presents research scenarios that differ somewhat from those of the past decade. Forest research should not only focus on forest management but also address aspects of restoring degraded sites, the progression of forest threats, integrated forest management, and other uses, agroforestry, forest plantations, the new technologies employed in the sector, as well as social and economic factors, among others.

Universities are contributing to this mission by training forestry professionals in various higher education institutions within the Bolivian University System. For instance, the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno has, to date, graduated over 700 forestry professionals and has conducted more than 400 research projects, including theses and directed works, on various aspects of the forestry sector.