The situation regarding the control of drugs in Bolivia has shown significant progress in the last few years in its three main areas: alternative development/control of illegal crops, prevention of use of drugs, and prohibition/control measures. According to the data from the Department of Agricultural Re-conversion (DIRECO), it is estimated that, by the end of 1996, there were 38,248 hectares of coca, the Tropic of Cochabamba being the main productive region with a total of 25,750 hectares. In the course of 1996, 7,511 hectares of coca were destroyed. At the same time, the area with alternative crops, stimulated by the National Programme for Alternative Development, has reached 93,790 hectares according to the 1996 Farming Poll carried out by the National Institute of Statistics.

The region of the Tropic of Cochabamba, commonly known as Chapare, has the highest production of the coca leaf in Bolivia; it is estimated that in October 1996 there were some 25,750 hectares of production, the majority of which was intended for the illegal production of cocaine. The efforts of the Government of Bolivia to eradicate the cultivation of the coca leaf and control the activities deriving from this cultivation, plus the application of an alternative development strategy, resulted in 1996 in the effective reduction of some 7,578 hectares of crop (by end December 1996)). Equally, the price of coca has fallen in the same period. The government has proposed to eradicate 6,000 hectares annually up to the year 2,000.

From the 80s onwards, the alternative development projects carried out in the Tropic of Cochabamba have been principally concentrated on the reduction of the cultivation of the coca leaf. The strategy is based on an integral rapprochement with the aim of giving the producers the necessary support and conditions to transform their means of production and develop alternate sources of income from legal crops. In addition, the strategy comprises the permanent supply of aid from farming production to crop marketing, including farming research, market studies, the supply of provisions for production, expansion, training and technical assistance, the supply of electricity, the establishment of drinking water and sewage systems, the improvement of access roads and the construction of the production infrastructure, such as packing and processing plants, the supply of information on markets for the producers and marketers, the promotion of private investment in the region and reinforcement of the local producers' associations.

Over the past 2 years the production of the coca leaf and the subsistence farming practices have resulted in the extensive deforestation of the Tropic of Cochabamba. To the extent that the soil fertility decays rapidly in already felled areas, the campesino feels obliged to slash and burn, year after year, new areas of primary or secondary forest instead of taking up sustainable farming practices or investing in farming supplies to maintain the soil's fertility.

To promote sustainable production of economic alternatives through agroforestry, soil conservation, forest management and harvesting, thereby reducing dependence on coca.

Component 1 - Strategic Planning

• Operational and strategic linkages established between project, the National Alternative Development Strategy, the Sustainable Regional Development Plan, municipal development plans, and the agencies applying the forestry.
• Long-term forestry plan for the Cochabamba tropics established and adopted, with support from government, private sector, NGOs and donors.

Component 2 - Productive and Socio-Economic Development - Agroforestry and Forest Management

• Agroforestry and soil conservation practices routinely adopted by project beneficiaries.
• Forestry management plans executed in 15 zones.
• Family, (multi-family) and communal nurseries established to provide plant material for agroforestry activities and forest management plans.
• Gender perspective incorporated in all project activities, taking into account women's role in the management of forest resources, thereby guaranteeing their access to project benefits.
• Approximately 20 producer organisations are organised and strengthened for production processing and marketing of agroforestry and forestry products.
• Information of marketing of agroforestry and forestry products prepared and widely disseminated to target groups.
• Permanent Regional Centre for Natural Resources established within the framework of the Forestry Law, in order to assure continuity of activities beyond the project's duration.
• Staff of Municipios, and Prefecture of Cochabamba, trained in forest management through participation in project implementation, institutional co-operation and specific training programmes.
• Agroforestry extension activities implemented through NGOs, producer associations and the Technical Forestry School (Cochabamba).
• Monitoring and Evaluation system established and working.