Xinhua

La Jornada Newspaper
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, p. 21

Peace. The Bolivian department of Santa Cruz faces an unprecedented environmental crisis with more than 7.3 million hectares of forests and grasslands consumed by forest fires in a period of just over four months, reported the Departmental Emergency Operations Center. This department, the most populated and the main economic engine of the country, has so far 58 active fires. The capital of this province yesterday recorded its worst air quality index of the year. More than 30 million hectares of forests and grasslands have been lost throughout Bolivia due to fire between 2019 and 2024. The most affected areas are the Amazonian departments of Santa Cruz and Beni.