DUTCH MANUAL ERADICATION AND ALTERNATIVE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 011952

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR INL/LP
DEPT FOR WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR CO
SUBJECT: DUTCH MANUAL ERADICATION AND ALTERNATIVE
DEVELOPMENT IN NATIONAL PARKS



1. (SBU) According to the Dutch Embassy in Bogota, the
Kingdom of the Netherlands is increasing its support to
manual eradication and alternative development projects in
Colombia's National Parks. The two new programs listed
below will be started in CY2006:


A. "Forced Manual Eradication of illicit crops in the
National Parks." EUR 300,000 (approximately USD 360,000)
has been approved to support GOC manual eradication efforts.
The Dutch Embassy estimates that this will cover about 1325
hectares, or 25 percent of the coca in the parks (using
UN/SIMCI estimates).


B. "Consolidating the effectiveness, legitimacy,
visibility and sustainability of the management of National
Parks as a preventative strategy against the expansion of
illicit crops in those areas." EUR 1,585,185(approximately
USD 1.9M) has been approved for alternative development
projects in the parks.


2. (SBU) The Dutch programs are designed to help protect
Colombia's rich biodiversity, eradicate illegal crops, and
support the indigenous populations. If the projects are
successful, the Dutch Embassy plans to expand them later in
CY2006.

WOOD