New forestry regulations stipulate that all timber producers need to certify the wood they extract from the forest. So far, only 50% of the 1,300 companies in the timber business have their Origin Forestry Certificates (CEFO).

Deadline to obtain this certificate was this Monday, August 22, 2011. Now, the Forest and Territory Authority (ABT) has to go after illegal timber and seize that wood as the law mandates; this action will be handled by 250 public officials nationwide. So far, the market has experienced 200% increase in prices as there is a shortage in the supply of wood to the national market.

http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-08-24/Economia/Destacados/90000012401.aspx

It is hard to understand why people, businesses tend to “forget” these type of deadlines. If we were to think negatively, we would reason that most of that neglect is an excuse to commercialize and profit from illegal logging. Corruption in this sector is still happening  on top of new rules of the game. So, we experience illegal logging on portions of the forest who are vulnerable and there are no sustainable forestry practices. Long gone are the days when Bolivia ranked first in the world as the nation with most hectares under sustainable certified natural forest.