Private Interest Groups Blamed for Record Fire Devastation in Bolivian Forests

In 2024, an unprecedented number of fires ravaged protected areas, causing devastation to indigenous homes, farms, and animals.

In the heart of the Bolivian Amazon, wildfires have burned over 24 million acres this year according to the nongovernmental organization, Tierra.

Global Forest Watch data reveals more than 45,993 fires in Bolivia in 2024, breaking all previous deforestation records since 2012.

Many attribute this devastating trend to a federal land grant program that leads to the destruction of protected forest land for legal titles.

Private interest groups involved in mining, logging, and drug trafficking are also blamed for accelerating deforestation rates in Bolivia’s Amazon.

Loss of tree cover due to wildfires has significantly increased since 2019, as per Global Forest Watch data.

Bolivia strictly prohibits burning forested land, but legal loopholes permit residents to do so with government permits.

Bolivia’s Ministry of Health reported over 10,567 cases of health issues related to wildfires, mainly dehydration and respiratory problems.

The excessive smoke from the fires has caused health complications for residents, with thousands treated for wildfire-related ailments.