Climate-smart agriculture initiatives are also being undertaken to complement the reforestation program with the same aims of supporting sustainable development for cross-cultural and indigenous families and communities in the area, whilst protecting and enhancing its natural resources.
Although the (ArBolivia) model of investment in reforestation for timber is itself economically sustainable in the longer term, both Sicirec and its participating farmers are increasingly aware from their shared experience, that the relationships developed can also be used to generate additional revenue in the shorter term, by developing and improving agricultural production chains, as well the sustainable management of existing forests.
Sicirec Bolivia propose to integrate agroforestry, combining sustainable, climate-smart agriculture with both tree planting and sustainable forest management. To achieve this objective, Sicirec Bolivia seeks additional financing for the establishment of agroforestry plots combining trees, perineal/annual crops and development of silvicultural practices.
The “integrated land use” approach will result in an increase in biomass in those areas where tree planting and climate smart agriculture are implemented. This approach will also lead to less pressure on remaining forests and reducing the need to convert forest into new farmland.
The main tasks for this achievement are: Introducing of new cropping activities adapted to climate change, the development of chain of custody for (agro)forestry production, incrising skills, market development, business plans, strengthening of community organizations (forestry committees) and negotiating new credit schemes. Those activities will support both climate-change mitigation and adaptation as well as economic development.
In addition to developing the production chain for timber and biomass agroforestry crops chain also shows great potential for increasing the productivity of the small holders, through improvements to current production methods on the one hand, and post-harvest processes, storage and marketing on the other.