Devastating fires in Bolivia: the environmental policy pointed out

The Tunari National Park, affected by fires on August 18, 2010. In August 2021, more than 750,000 hectares of forest have already gone up in smoke in Bolivia.

AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Bolivia, as every year during the dry season, the forest burns and large parts of the territory risk being lost forever in the Amazon basin.

If people are fighting against the flames on the ground, in the decision-making bodies, reactions are slow to arrive.  

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With our correspondent in La Paz,

 Alice Campaignolle 

These fires in Bolivia have an air of déjà vu.

In 2019, the

fires in the Amazon basin

made headlines around the world.

This year, more than 750,000 hectares of forest have already gone up in smoke.

And the worst is yet to come.

Weather conditions suggest that there will be more fires in September and October.

These fires also devastate natural parks with exceptional biodiversity.

The main cause of the flames?

Clearance by fire mainly used by large landowners, for soybeans or livestock.

And this, with the approval of the government which maintains in force the so-called incendiary decrees which authorize this kind of practices.

The fight of pro-environment activists

" 

It is no use fighting against the flames day after day and dying for it - because firefighters die in these fires - if the next day someone else starts a new fire,

 laments Guillermo Villalobos, of the foundation. Solon.

 The idea is therefore to attack the origin of all this, that is to say the state support for the agro-industrial sector or the export of meat to China. .

 " 

The pro-environment activists continue to fight to awaken government consciousness around the problem of the fires, but for the moment, no reaction from the side of the authorities. 

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To read also: Why the Amazon rainforest is also burning in Bolivia

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  • Bolivia

  • Natural disasters

  • Agriculture and Fishing

  • Amazonia