Helping Bolivia's poor to achieve better and more secure lives is the principal aim behind CARE's work in Bolivia, which began in 1976. Initially, CARE's work focused on rural health and water supply projects. Today, they range from support for small business to large-scale technical assistance, from girls' education to health, from rural development to city government. A young Bolivian boy stands beside his pet sheep. One important concern has been finding solutions for sustainable livelihoods for people living in or close to national parks.
Bolivia has eight national parks, although most are little known outside the country.
Schollaert waxes lyrical about their beauty and diversity. But sometimes there is conflict between the need to conserve the natural environment and the needs of poor people. That is why CARE is working with local organizations in and around the Ambor National Park. In October 1995, the government of Bolivia created Ambor National Park, located in the western department of Santa Cruz. It covers an area of approximately 2,400 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Delaware.