Bolivia Wildfires: A Calamity of Unprecedented Proportions
LA PAZ (Reuters) – Wildfires in Bolivia have burned through more than 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) this year, mostly in the country’s tropical east, smashing records for its worst-ever fire season and scorching an area the size of Iceland or Cuba.
Impact of the Wildfires
- The new figures released on Monday by non-governmental organization Tierra Foundation represent the equivalent of nearly 19 million American football fields.
- Fires in recent months have propelled Bolivia past devastating fire years in 2010 and 2019.
- Santa Cruz, a wealthy farming region in the country’s eastern lowlands near Brazil, has been the hardest hit, accounting for almost 7 million hectares of the total.
- The nearby department of Beni follows with 3 million hectares affected.
The Crisis Unfolding
“What’s happened in recent months in eastern Bolivia, and will continue to occur at least through October, is a disaster of a magnitude unprecedented in the country,” said Juan Pablo Chumacero, a researcher at the Tierra Foundation.
This catastrophe is affecting the lives of thousands of households, farmers, and Indigenous people, many of whom have been displaced due to the loss of their homes, crops, and livelihoods, as well as contamination of air and water sources.
Government Response
- Government-shared numbers until September, the most recent available, tallied 4.6 million hectares of burned forest and 2.3 million hectares of grasslands.
- September was by far the worst month this year.
- Bolivia’s government declared a national disaster last week after demands from local authorities, community organizations, and citizens for more forceful intervention.
Causes of the Wildfires
Bolivia’s fires have been exacerbated by drought and land clearances linked to booming cattle and grain production.
“2024 will be remembered as the year of the worst environmental disaster in Bolivia’s history,” added Gonzalo Colque, Tierra Foundation’s director.
Dramatic images have shown Bolivians trying to rescue belongings from burning homes.
Data from Brazil’s INPE space agency show that there have been 82,117 active fire outbreaks in Bolivia this year until Oct. 6, only 1,000 shy of the full-year record in 2010.
(Reporting by Monica Machicao and Daniel Ramos; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rod Nickel)
Analysis of the Bolivia Wildfires Situation
The wildfires in Bolivia have reached an alarming scale, impacting millions of hectares of land and displacing thousands of people. The environmental and human costs of this disaster are significant, with homes, crops, and livelihoods being destroyed. The government’s declaration of a national disaster highlights the severity of the situation.
The causes of the wildfires, including drought and land clearances for agricultural purposes, underscore the need for sustainable land management practices. The record-breaking number of active fire outbreaks is a stark reminder of the urgency to address climate change and its devastating effects.
As investors, journalists, and individuals, it is crucial to recognize the interconnectedness of environmental issues and financial stability. The Bolivia wildfires serve as a wake-up call to the global community to take action towards preserving our planet and securing a sustainable future for all.