The fires caused in forest reserves, farmland and pastures in Bolivia have affected more than 850,000 hectares, almost triple the number reported two weeks ago, according to a government report this Sunday.
“As of September 10 of this year, 854,724 hectares have been burned in the country,” Vice Minister of Civil Defense Juan Carlos Calvimontes told a state media outlet.
The minister had reported on August 27 that the fires caused to expand agricultural land had affected 299,503 hectares.
Millions of hectares burned each year
Despite the increases in the last two weeks, “there is a considerable reduction (in fires) compared to previous years,” said Juan Carlos Calvimontes.
The government works so that in the year the destruction of forests and pastures does not exceed one and a half million hectares, he explained.
Calvimontes recalled that in 2019 Bolivia registered the fire of 3.5 million hectares, in 2020 5.2 million hectares and that in 2021 the figure dropped to 4.2 million hectares.
Although for now the fires are controlled, he expressed his concern because the fire affects part of the Noel Kempff Mercado (541,200 hectares) and Amboró (636,000 hectares) national parks.
Source: BFM TV
