FTC in Chapare (51 images)

The FTC, Joint Task Force, is a branch of the Bolivian army and is responsible for the eradication of surplus coca crops, those who are outside the law by being located outside the permitted areas or exceed the legal size of a cocal.
The eradication of surplus coca in Bolivia is made manually, unlike how it is done in Colombia or Peru, where are used chemicals that affect soil fertility.
The FTC has members from the three armed forces, the support of UPE, environmental police...
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The FTC, Joint Task Force, is a branch of the Bolivian army and is responsible for the eradication of surplus coca crops, those who are outside the law by being located outside the permitted areas or exceed the legal size of a cocal.
The eradication of surplus coca in Bolivia is made manually, unlike how it is done in Colombia or Peru, where are used chemicals that affect soil fertility.
The FTC has members from the three armed forces, the support of UPE, environmental police unit, and the collaboration of DIGECO.
The FTC in the Chapare is composed of 800 recruits and 35 officers. The recruits spend a minimum of 4 months of service in the area before being replaced. A total of 2200 recruits run every year by the Chapare to fulfill this function.
Recruits are divided in 10 or 12 mobile camps that shift position depending on the area to eradicate. For eradication are formed groups of about 50 recruits, each group eradicates 2 ha of surplus coca daily.
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