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Quechua medicinal herbs and agroforestry in the central Bolivian Andes

BoliTrees partners with Quechua communities in the central Bolivian Andes, around Cochabamba, to restore agroecological balance through ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, and sustainable use of resources like medicinal plants.

Location

Cochabamba, Bolivia

Period

Certification expected in 2026

Project type

Afforestation and Reforestation Project (ARR)

Credit type

reported PVCs (rPVCs) and verified PVCs (vPVCs)

Project Context

The inter-Andean valleys near Cochabamba, Bolivia, hold a high potential for forest regeneration. However, on the ground, prevalent shifting cultivation techniques have led to their degradation into bushland. 

BoliTrees partners with Quechua communities to enhance the agroecological balance by promoting agroforestry systems, including silvopastoral woodlands and fruit orchards as a sustainable alternative. Not only do these enable forest regeneration, they also offer diverse livelihood resources such as medicinal plants, fruits, and apiculture.

Project Details

11

 Native species planted in forest regeneration and agroforestry plots, including native trees, bee-attracting shrubs and medicinal herbs.

Targeted SDGs

Project Highlights

Resilient landscapes

The project grows native trees, shrubs, and cacti to restore biodiversity, improve soil and water, and boost agriculture and drought resilience.

Diversified forest products

The project’s approach unlocks access to medicinal herbs, honey, and non-timber forest products for Quechua communities.

Traditional water structures

The 60% socio-ecological fund develops traditional “quechua chapay” water structures that trap runoff and boost water availability.

Activities

Each of our projects includes a range of activities tailored to local context, traditions, and needs. Explore what’s happening on the ground.

Local Impact, Global Goals

See how our work supports the SDGs through measurable community impact indicators.

Community members engage in non-timber forest products, agroforestry, and apiculture to diversify incomes and support nutrition.

The project delivers workshops in schools to raise awareness about its activities and impact. It also hosts an annual knowledge-sharing day, encouraging smallholder participants to exchange experiences and learn from one another.

The project partners with Quechua agrarian syndicates to develop agroforestry systems and non-timber forest products, including beekeeping for honey and other locally sold goods. It also creates employment opportunities by hiring community members to work in its nurseries. In addition, the project participates in the “feira productiva”, a festive event where farmers showcase and sell their products.

The project restores native vegetation and biodiversity to reverse ecosystem degradation and capture carbon, helping mitigate climate change.

The project restores native ecosystems through enrichment planting of indigenous species such as Tipa and Tara, alongside soil and water conservation activities, including the construction of trenches on farmers’ fields. Together, these interventions improve water infiltration, soil health, and biodiversity boosting downslope agricultural resilience.

Field impressions

A look into our work on the ground

Documents

Plan Vivo projects are, above all, transparent. All our project documentation is publicly available.

Registration certificate

Plan Vivo projects receive registration certificate once successfully validated by a third party validator.

Project design document

Project context: Expected benefits, environmental and social contexts, participating community and their involvement in project design and governance, governance structure and interventions.

Latest audit

Plan Vivo projects are audited by third-party validators/verifiers to ensure that they are of the highest quality.

Annual reports