Since May, devastating fires in the Bolivian Amazon, caused by the practice of chaqueos have destroyed tropical forests, displaced communities, and decimated wildlife. President Luis Arce declared a “national catastrophe” on September 30 in response to the alarming situation.
The fires, exacerbated by an earlier and more intense drought, have ravaged 6.9 million hectares of land, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Indigenous populations, heavily reliant on the environment for sustenance, are the hardest hit by the fires, forcing many to migrate to urban areas.
Natives, the main victims
Alex Villca Limaco, representing indigenous communities, expressed concern over the health effects of the fires, which have enveloped the region in smoke. President Arce has taken action, declaring a national health alert and implementing a temporary ban on agricultural fires to address the crisis.