The wider problem addressed by the project is that of pressure on the living standards of resource poor farmers in lowland Bolivia, in the context of unsustainable natural resource management practices. Slash and burn agriculture, extensification, the fallow problem of declining yields and increasing weeds, and deforestation all exert pressure on the natural resource base. This is heightened by the sustained long-term migration of farmers from the highlands to the lowlands, and by the actions of commercial logging and ranching concerns.

The causes of these wider problems are many. An absence of markets undermines the dynamic towards more stable and intensive agricultural systems, as does land tenure insecurity. These encourage forest clearance to establish ownership or as a means of quickly generating income through the sale of "prepared" land. But on small scale farms a lack of appropriate technology/ knowledge also remains a real constraint to achieving viable living standards based on sustainable NRM practices. Knowledge of farming systems, cropping possibilities and of farm and community forestry opportunities is constrained: this is the central issue addressed by this project.

The three year project will strengthen CIAT - The Centre for Tropical Agriculture Research - which services farmers in the Department of Santa Cruz in the Eastern Lowlands of Bolivia. It will do so by helping CIAT strengthen links with other research (and non-research) organisations; by improving the overall business management of CIAT; by encouraging more cost-recovery and a greater client focus; by strengthening the management of the research cycle; and by developing a capability within CIAT to advise on approaches to farm and community forestry.

Strengthened CIAT capacity to develop and deliver sustainable land management technologies which improve the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in the transition zones of lowland Bolivia.

• CIAT's services to its clients strengthened through consolidation of ability to contract in expertise, and operate links with Bolivian and international organisations.
• CIAT management strengthened through improved planning, strategies, systems and staff development.
• Cost recovery and income generation strategy developed and implemented to sharpen CIAT's client focus and strengthen its financial base.
• Enhanced CIAT capability to develop and deliver technologies in agriculture and agro-forestry for use by resource-poor farmers through improved:

* research identification, planning and management

* technology development

* technology transfer.

• CIAT capability developed to identify, design and promote approaches to:

* farm forestry and

* community forestry