BOSCOSA -- the program for forest management and conservation on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica implemented by Fundacion Neotropica : project evaluation report

Interim evaluation covers the period 1989-10/92. The project's most significant impacts have been in the areas of social and ecological sustainability. Economic and political impacts are not notable, due in part to the project's short life span and its grassroots orientation. Since project inception, eight grassroots organizations have been developed in the Osa community, and a more positive attitude towards forest conservation and sustainable management of forest resources has been successfully promoted, as is evident from the nearly 6,500 ha under improved land use. As a result, the vulnerability of both public and private forests to agricultural development has noticeably decreased: 290 ha of degraded pasture lands have been reforested and almost 160 ha have been converted from annual to perennial crops by farmers who received TA from the project. Training has benefitted ten grassroots organizations. All in all, 72 women and 114 men have received training in organizational development, accounting, administration, cultural arts, and handicrafts; over 80 training events have been conducted in handicrafts alone. In addition, 11 young men are enrolled in a paraforester training program. The project has led to the creation of 56 jobs, the majority of them in self-sustaining activities such as the CAM (Cooperativa Cogestionaria de Productores Agroforestal e Industrial de la Peninsula de Osa) nursery. Although there has been little change in policies, economic incentives, and land tenure laws that permit deforestation on the Osa Peninsula, the project has increased institutional cooperation, serving as a liaison between governmental bodies and helping establish a coalition of groups and interests committed to the preservation of the forests of Osa. The project has also leveraged financial assistance from a variety of national and international sources, channeling almost $1 million to 11 grassroots organizations.