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 The first step in
protecting the Park was to indemnify logging companies for concessions
they had purchased from the Government of Bolivia. Prior to 1997,
these logging companies were actively
engaged in harvesting timber in a 2-million acre area adjacent to
the western and southern boundaries of the Park. A
"leakage" prevention agreement was negotiated with the
former timber concessionaires under which they are obligated to
report on the use of the compensatory funds they received to cease
operations, and to cooperate on sustainable forestry practices on
their other logging concessions.  Following indemnification of the
concessionaires, the Government of Bolivia expanded the boundaries of
the Park, effectively doubling its size. Since then, FAN has hired
and trained additional Park rangers, constructed ranger stations and
associated infrastructure, purchased trucks and boats to patrol
the Park, and now regularly conducts aerial surveillance. Through careful
oversight, the rangers prevent logging or agricultural conversion
activities within the Park.
To ensure that the project
remains financially self-sustaining after the initial investment
of $11 million in the first ten years, several income-producing
activities have been initiated. A $1.5 million endowment fund was
established and is being managed by The Nature
Conservancy. The
interest earned on the fund will help finance park protection and
management activities during the life of  the project and beyond.
An ecotourism program has been
launched, with project funds
dedicated to the construction of guest houses and a visitors
center at Flor de Oro within the Park, and investments in
ecotourism marketing. A green enterprise company, Canopy
Botanicals, was incorporated to invest in sustainable,
ecologically sensitive businesses with promising rates of return.
See maps of the Park.
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