Regional environmental and natural resources management : wood utilization and market development activity component

The component, implemented by the Interamerican Management Consulting Corporation (IMCC) under contract with ROCAP, aimed at developing higher value wood products from underutilized tree species in Guatemala, while simultaneously providing for sustainable forest management. Ad hoc evaluation covered the period 1989-6/92. The component is an important, perhaps essential, element in any program aimed at helping Central America"s forests recuperate and survive. Nearly 20 activities have been either launched or completed, and the component has developed a positive presence in the minds of key people in the sector. As a result of these efforts, a clear picture has emerged of which aspects of the overall program should be continued in Guatemala and the region in general. The only significant criticisms are that (1) IMCC"s activities, constrained by 6-month deadlines, were not as in-depth as they could have been, and (2) potential cooperators were only willing to invest a modicum of resources, due to the chance that IMCC"s contract would not be renewed. For details on project accomplishments, see XD-ABF-893-A. Despite the strong recommendation of the evaluators that the project be continued and despite Mission preparation of a Project Paper supplement for the IMCC activity, the IMCC contract was allowed to reach its natural termination and the Project Paper supplement was shelved.