(La Paz) Fires sparked in forest reserves, farmland and pastures in Bolivia have affected more than 850,000 hectares, almost triple what was reported two weeks ago, according to a report published on Sunday by the government.
Posted at 8:11 p.m.
“As of September 10 of this year, 854,724 hectares have been burned in the country,” Deputy Civil Defense Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes reported when interviewed by a state media network.
The minister reported on August 27 that the fires caused to expand agricultural land had affected 299,503 hectares.
Despite the increases of the last two weeks, “there is a considerable reduction (of arson) compared to previous years”, nevertheless specified Mr. Calvimontes.
The government is working to ensure that, over the year, the destruction of forests and pastures does not exceed 1.5 million hectares, he explained.
Calvimontes recalled that in 2019 Bolivia recorded the fire of 3.5 million hectares, in 2020 5.2 million hectares and in 2021 the figure fell to 4.2 million. hectares.
This year’s fires are recorded in the departments of Santa Cruz (east), Beni (northeast), Tarija (south) and Chuquisaca (southeast).
Although the fires are under control for now, he expressed concern about the fire affecting part of the Noel Kempff Mercado (541,200 hectares) and Amboró (636,000 hectares) national parks.