This year, the forest fires that affected millions of hectares left Bolivia with “the worst environmental crisis” in its history.
Environmental specialists warn that the country “will not recover” what was lost in over four months of intense forest fires, grassland burns, and natural reserves.
Devastating Impact of the Fires
Juan Pablo Chumacero, director of Fundación Tierra, stated that not everything lost will be recovered. “The truth is that what has been lost is unlikely to ever be recovered,” he declared.
The latest report from the government of Luis Arce, as of October 13, indicated that forest fires devastated 9.8 million hectares, with Santa Cruz being the most affected region. Fundación Tierra estimated that by mid-November, the fires had ravaged over 14 million hectares.
Unprecedented Environmental Crisis
Vincent Vos, from the Institute of Forest Research of the Amazonia at the Autonomous University of Beni José Ballivián, pointed out that Bolivia is experiencing “the worst environmental crisis” in its history.
The expert explained that 60% of the burned hectares are forests, causing “irreversible” damage to the environment. “If about 6 million hectares of forest were burned, we are talking about 1.8 billion burned trees,” Vos estimated.
Ecological Consequences
Vos also mentioned that millions of mammals, vertebrates, and invertebrates have been lost. Although some species managed to escape, they have already lost their natural habitat and will need to adapt to new living conditions.
Environmental Pause and Challenges
President Arce announced a 10-year environmental pause in the devastated areas of the Amazon due to fires, with no authorizations for agricultural burns.
However, Chumacero pointed out that implementing this pause is challenging due to non-compliance with regulations in Bolivia. “Long-term plans and agreements between the government and the productive sector are needed so that fire is not the ‘only tool’ to open up agricultural frontiers,” he emphasized.
Recurring Problem
The fires in Bolivia are mainly caused by ‘chaqueos’ or controlled burns to prepare land for planting and grazing. Although the government declared a “national disaster” and received international aid, the amount of affected hectares this year exceeds that of previous years, according to Fundación Tierra.
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