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