Learn from fires to save the future

If we can extract something positive from the environmental disasters that we suffer year after year, it is the emergence of a legion of committed people who, by being on the front line in the fight against fire, are becoming experts in prevention, combat and extinction. of forest fires, as well as in the revitalization of our battered ecosystems.​

Among them are volunteer firefighters, scientists, environmentalists, responsible producers and communities who, in the midst of the catastrophe, are acquiring valuable information. The only ones who don’t learn are the oppressors who start fires and then traffic with the land. Jail belongs to them.

The seven million hectares burned this year are a warning: the destruction of the ecosystem of eastern Bolivia is reaching a point of no return. We are playing our last cards to save the flora, fauna and the sustainability of human life in these South American plains. All the knowledge and effort of these committed people will be necessary to preserve life in this region.

Experts warn that recurring fires are altering the water cycle. Devastated vegetation can no longer absorb water or release moisture, reducing water vapor in the atmosphere and changing rainfall patterns. Exposure of soil decreases its absorption capacity, which increases runoff and causes flooding.

In the medium term, we are causing the desertification of our lands. Communities that suffer these tragedies firsthand report that it is increasingly difficult to obtain water from wells or water bodies in devastated soils. Firefighters and environmentalists already perceive significant imbalances in wildlife, with the disappearance of some species and the undesirable proliferation of others.

Beyond the urgent need to extinguish the fires that are still active, it is imperative to implement reforestation and damage mitigation programs, especially in protected areas and national parks. This is a task for the experts, since it is not just about planting trees, but rather allowing the native species of each region the opportunity to regenerate.

Reversing this disaster is only possible with a comprehensive plan, something that will not be achieved if the authorities limit themselves to pointing fingers without addressing the root of the problem. Even declaring a national disaster is being debated, indicating that the government still does not understand the seriousness of the situation. Until they take a strong stance in favor of sustainability and environmental protection, results will continue to fall short.

Therefore, experts can play a crucial role in the design of new strategies. It is necessary to review national regulations that encourage misuse of land, as well as local, municipal, departmental and national powers. We must form permanent work teams that prevent fires from continuing to wreak havoc. We must protect our biodiversity, promote sustainable agricultural production in areas suitable for these activities and safeguard the water cycle throughout the territory. We must also ensure the health of the population who, year after year, breathes air of poor quality.

Only when we manage to effectively prevent these fires, or adequately control them when they occur, will we realize that we are not only protecting our flora and fauna, but also our own lives.