As part of the Complementary Training Plan for park guards of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP), the Ministry of Education awarded the diploma of Basic Technician 'Park guard of Protected Areas' to 207 park guards (representing 72% of the protection team of the SNAP as a whole) representing the 22 national protected areas. The ceremony of academic certification was held on September 21st, in San Buenaventura, Bolivia, on the occasion of the celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the creation of Madidi and Kaa Iya of the Gran Chaco National Parks, two protected areas that are vital for the conserving the natural and cultural heritage of Bolivia.
This diploma represents an important step in the process of professionalization of the park guards of the Protected Area System, in accordance with a study program that addresses key issues for the integrated management of protected areas. The training method was made up of virtual classes through interactive videos shown in each one of the protected areas and the implementation of field exercises, with proper guidance from the directors of the protected areas and the supervision of the Alternative Education Centers from the Ministry of Education.
WCS contributed actively both in the design of the training plan and the study program as well as in the development of the teaching materials such as the recording of the virtual classes, under permanent coordination work with the National Service of Protected Areas (SERNAP) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AIS), especially in topics such as protection and surveillance, planning and territorial management, integral monitoring and scientific research, natural resource management, climate change and risk management.