Fcbc Bolivia: A Football Club With A Difference

FCBC, or the Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano, is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It was established in 1999 to promote harmonious coexistence between society and nature in the Chiquitano Forest, through knowledge, appreciation and conservation of its natural and cultural heritage. The Chiquitano Forest is an ecoregion that spans almost entirely across Bolivia, particularly in the department of Santa Cruz, and to a lesser extent in northern Paraguay and western Brazil. FCBC focuses on contributing to the conservation of biological and ecologically important species, especially those that are vulnerable or at risk of extinction.

FCBC is a non-profit organisation

FCBC, or the Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano, is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It was established in 1999 with the mission to promote harmonious coexistence between society and nature in the Chiquitano Forest. The Chiquitano Dry Forest is an environmentally vulnerable ecosystem that comprises a large portion of Bolivia's tropical savannas in the Santa Cruz Department.

FCBC's work focuses on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. They aim to protect the natural heritage of eastern Bolivia and support local, national, and global strategies for adapting to climate change. This includes contributing to the conservation of biologically and ecologically important species, especially those vulnerable or at risk of extinction, through studies, monitoring, and direct actions.

The organisation's scope of action covers the entire department of Santa Cruz and beyond, with projects of varying scales and durations across the Chiquitania region. FCBC collaborates with a significant number of other national and foreign organisations, strengthening the environmental movement in Bolivia. Their projects have a strategic focus, aiming to balance the relationship between people and nature.

FCBC's work is structured through programmes and thematic projects, with a professional team of around 50 people. The team includes experts in natural sciences, cartography, forestry, sustainable resource management, protected areas, and more. The organisation's annual resources come from its trust fund and project financing by bilateral and multilateral entities, national and foreign foundations, private donors, and others. FCBC typically manages annual budgets ranging from $1 to $2 million, aiming to maximise the impact of these resources on the ground.

FCBC was originally created to prevent significant environmental impacts arising from development projects in the Chiquitano Dry Forest, such as the construction of the Rio San Miguel-San Matias gas pipeline in 1999. The initiative emerged from an agreement between environmental organisations and the companies owning the gas pipeline, with all founders committing to voluntary contributions beyond legal environmental requirements. Over time, the governance structure evolved, and new entities joined, shaping the current institutional governance.

Focuses on the Chiquitano Dry Forest

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest (FCBC) is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The FCBC focuses on the Chiquitano Dry Forest, an ecoregion that is almost entirely contained within Bolivia, particularly in the department of Santa Cruz, with smaller areas in northern Paraguay and western Brazil. This dry forest is the largest and best-preserved tropical dry forest in the world, with a unique biodiversity that is, however, extremely fragile.

The Chiquitano Dry Forest is a unique ecosystem, with six months of rainfall and six months of drought. It is home to valuable timber species such as cedar, oak, tajibo, and morado, which make the forest attractive for commercial exploitation. The forest also contributes to two of South America's most important watersheds: the Amazon and the Paraguay-Plata. The conservation of this ecorregion is crucial for maintaining the dynamics of the Great Pantanal of Bolivia and Brazil and its influence on Paraguay.

The FCBC works to protect this vulnerable ecosystem and promote harmonious coexistence between society and the Chiquitano Dry Forest. They aim to achieve this through knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the region. The FCBC has been active since 1999, conducting activities in different fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, making a significant impact on the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the region.

The FCBC collaborates with other organisations, such as the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) and Consorcio Regional de Experimentación Agropecuaria (CREA), to address the threats posed by deforestation and agricultural practices. Together, they promote regenerative agriculture practices and sustainable forest management to protect the Chiquitano Dry Forest and other ecosystems in the region, such as the Cerrado and the Chaco.

Works to conserve ecosystems

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest (FCBC) is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. FCBC's geographical scope of action encompasses the entire department of Santa Cruz and centres on the most environmentally vulnerable ecosystems, notably the Chiquitano Dry Forest, the Cerrado, and the Chaco.

FCBC has been working in various fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development since 1999, yielding significant impacts on the socio-economic and environmental fronts. The organisation's efforts are particularly crucial given that Bolivia has the world's third-highest deforestation rate, losing almost 400,000 hectares of primary forest in 2022.

• Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Practices: FCBC, in collaboration with the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) and Consorcio Regional de Experimentación Agropecuaria (CREA), is promoting regenerative agriculture practices through a pilot project with farmers in Bolivia. The project aims to increase yields in agricultural areas by adopting regenerative farming techniques, such as restoring degraded soils and reducing chemical pesticides. By demonstrating the profitability and sustainability of regenerative practices, FCBC encourages farmers to conserve ecosystems and prevent further deforestation.
• Supporting Sustainable Forest Management: FCBC and CSF are providing recommendations to Bolivia's Forest Board to enhance decision-making around forests and climate change. They offer guidance on natural regeneration processes and assisted restoration in priority areas affected by fires, such as the Chiquitania and Chaco regions. This work is crucial in restoring degraded forest areas and conserving ecosystems.
• Conserving Vulnerable Ecosystems: FCBC focuses on preserving the Chiquitano Dry Forest, the Cerrado, and the Chaco, which are environmentally vulnerable ecosystems. These ecosystems are crucial in maintaining the functioning of larger ecosystems, preserving eastern Bolivia's natural heritage, and contributing to climate change adaptation strategies.
• Protecting Biodiversity: FCBC contributes to the conservation of biologically and ecologically important species, including those vulnerable or at risk of extinction. They conduct specific studies, monitor habitats and wild populations, and take direct action for valuation and protection. This work helps preserve the rich biodiversity of Bolivia, which is currently under significant threat.
• Collaborating with Local Communities: FCBC's work involves engaging with local communities, farmers, and decision-makers throughout the supply chain. By disseminating knowledge about regenerative practices and their benefits, FCBC aims to encourage sustainable agricultural practices that enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest (FCBC) is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The FCBC was established in 1999 to promote harmonious coexistence between society and nature in the Chiquitano Forest through knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of its natural and cultural heritage.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz department. The Chiquitano Dry Forest is an ecorégion that extends almost entirely in Bolivia, particularly in the department of Santa Cruz, and to a lesser extent in northern Paraguay and western Brazil. With an area of over 24 million hectares, it is the largest and best-preserved tropical dry forest in the world.

The geographical scope of the FCBC's activities includes the entire department of Santa Cruz, focusing on environmentally vulnerable ecosystems, especially the Chiquitano Dry Forest, the Cerrado, and the Chaco. The organisation has been working in different fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development since its founding, generating a significant impact on the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the region.

The FCBC collaborates with other organisations, such as the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) and Consorcio Regional de Experimentación Agropecuaria (CREA), to address deforestation and soil degradation in Bolivia. They promote regenerative agriculture practices through pilot projects with farmers in different soil conditions, aiming to scale up sustainable soy and meat production systems and reduce the need for deforestation.

The FCBC also contributes to the conservation of biologically and ecologically important species, including those vulnerable or at risk of extinction, through specific studies, habitat and population monitoring, and direct valuation and protection actions.

Formed in 1999

FCBC, or the Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano, is a non-profit organisation based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It was formed in 1999 to promote harmonious coexistence between society and the Chiquitano Forest, through the knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of its natural and cultural heritage.

The Chiquitano Dry Forest is an ecoregion that spans almost entirely across Bolivia, particularly in the department of Santa Cruz, and to a lesser extent in northern Paraguay and western Brazil. Covering over 24 million hectares, it is the largest and best-preserved tropical dry forest in the world. The forest is characterised by six months of rainfall and six months of drought, making it extremely biodiverse but also fragile.

The FCBC's work began in response to the construction of the Rio San Miguel-San Matías gas pipeline in 1999, which cut through the heart of the Chiquitano Dry Forest. This event marked a new phase of changes for an ecorregion that had previously been largely isolated and self-protected. The organisation was created through an agreement between environmental groups and the companies that owned the pipeline, with all founders committing to voluntary contributions beyond the legal environmental requirements.

Over its 20-year history, the FCBC has made significant contributions to the knowledge of the ecorregion, reflected in numerous publications with strong technical and scientific content. This knowledge has influenced territorial planning and led to the creation and strengthening of protected areas, as well as organisations focused on sustainability. All FCBC projects aim to strike a balance between people and nature.

The FCBC collaborates with a range of entities, including the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) and Consorcio Regional de Experimentación Agropecuaria (CREA), to address deforestation and promote sustainable practices in Bolivia. They work with farmers to transition to more sustainable approaches to soy and cattle farming, utilising regenerative agriculture techniques to improve soil fertility, resilience, and carbon sequestration.

Frequently asked questions