The Challenge
Paraguay is one of the countries strongly affected by deforestation. Much of its woodland has been destroyed by overexploitation and conversion into land for crops and grazing. Against this background, the Government is making great efforts to promote reforestation, including in the department of San Pedro. A large number of timber processing companies and co-operatives have been established there. One of these is Volendam, which wants to expand its share of the value chain for timber products. This goal depends in turn on maintaining a reliable source of raw materials, and therefore on faster reforestation, yet at present there are not enough skilled workers to plant the trees and process the timber.
Project approach
From 2021 to 2024, the project partners implemented the following measures with a total funding volume of EUR 290,000:
- Construction of a training centre, provision of technical equipment and design of training courses for forestry work and timber processing
- Practical training courses to develop the skills of forestry and timber processing workers, e.g. modules on the processing of impregnated timber to make log cabins, electricity poles, livestock sheds and greenhouses with a view to marketing them in the region
- Reforestation measures
Drawing on its many years of experience, Volendam designed a series of training courses to build up a skills base for the forestry and timber industry and enable trainees to set up their own independent businesses in small groups. GIZ helped Volendam to establish the programme locally through its contacts with relevant public stakeholders and educational bodies, such as the National Forestry Institute (INFONA) and the Agricultural Training and Research Institute (CETAPAR). These organisations are incorporating the courses developed by Volendam into their training curriculum and will run them independently of the project. Another project partner was the Federation of Production Cooperatives (FECOPROD).
The projects with GIZ were important for us to secure the future of the forests we need for our production business and to make employment conditions in the forestry sector attractive enough for future generations to make it their career choice.


Results
Thanks to the project, more land has been reforested, and agroforestry methods are now more widely used. A number of timber-processing companies have set up business in the San Pedro region and are planting woodland on a massive scale and introducing a range of forest management systems. The local processing of timber, e.g. impregnation and processing into poles and wooden sheds, greenhouses and barns, has created additional sources of income for the local population. The first timber products are already being marketed in the region. 75 of those who completed the training courses have taken up permanent positions with forestry and timber processing companies in the San Pedro region, including ten at Volendam itself, which now has a more reliable supply of inputs for its timber and grain products as well as long-term access to skilled labour to help it meet demand for production. The agricultural cooperative has also expanded its range of services to include timber impregnation and processing. The project also met with great interest beyond the region, and contacts were established with the forestry industry in Brazil.

develoPPP Classic
develoPPP Classic is aimed at medium-sized and large companies that want to invest sustainably in a developing or emerging country and expand their operational activities locally. Suitable projects receive technical and financial support of up to two million euros in public funding.
Project partners

