Ir. C.A. Kessler: "Moving people – towards collective action in soil and water conservation. Experiences from the Bolivian mountain valleys"

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24 Oct 2006 16:00
Unit: Wageningen UR
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr.ir. L. Stroosnijder (Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation)
Co Promotor: Dr.ir. J. de Graaff

 Land degradation in Bolivia is a serious threat. Can it be tackled? Although farmers are concerned, hardly any actions are undertaken. The challenge is to motivate farmers to adopt conservation practices on a wide scale. This four-year research in collaboration with Bolivian farmers, concludes that land degradation can only be tackled by moving people – at different levels – towards collective action in soil and water conservation. At farmer level, laying a solid foundation of genuinely participating farmers with better future prospects is crucial for the success of development activities. At institutional level, adequate national policies must aim at capacity building and motivation of people at the lower institutional levels, where particularly local governments (municipalities) are crucial in coordinating development activities. This requires excellent governance, collaboration from the top to the bottom, and collective donor action in support of sector-wide policies. Now, with a new socialist government In Bolivia, this is the moment to act.
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