Bolivians Say Private Interest Groups Are Causing Record Fire Devastation in Forests

An unprecedented number of fires were ignited in protected areas in 2024, destroying indigenous homes, farms, and animals.

Wildfire devastation in the Bolivian Pantanal region in 2024. Courtesy of Huascar Bustillos

In the heart of the Bolivian Amazon, a record number of wildfires have burned more than 24 million acres of land so far this year, according to nongovernmental organization Tierra.

More than 45,993 fires have been recorded in the country in 2024, surpassing all previous benchmarks of deforestation since 2012, according to Global Forest Watch data.