ABSTRACT
The intervention strategy for soil and water conservation implemented by a project of the Japan Green Resources Corporation in the inter-Andean valleys of Bolivia has motivated a majority of farmers to execute soil and water conservation practices. The key to the success of the applied strategy is the emphasis given to laying a solid foundation for sustainable rural development as an essential step before actually executing conservation activities. The most important aspect of this solid foundation is the existence of a progress-driven attitude in a village, which implies good internal organization and collaboration, the presence of village leaders, and awareness of the importance of natural resources for the village’s future development. The monitoring and evaluation of the change that a village undergoes during the building of the solid foundation is essential to detect weak points in the villager’s attitude. This is done by means of a set of easily measurable and practical criteria. When according to the criteria a village has achieved a progress-driven attitude, planning and execution of conservation and other activities can continue. This way, a project can largely avoid failures due to lack of motivation and preparation of a village.
