Bolivia is a stunning country, home to various wildlife and landscapes. I have had the privilege of visiting this country multiple times, and each time I am astounded by its beauty and natural resources. It is home to incredible mountain ranges, lush jungles, and the stunning Uyuni salt flats. However, it appears that not everyone cherishes its natural resources and beauty the way that I do. Now, the country is on the verge of a new land deal that is threatening one of Bolivia's most prominent forests. If this deal goes through, the entire ecosystem could be disrupted.
The New Land Deal Threatening Bolivia's Forests
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A large forest in Santa Cruz is on the verge of being sold to Born Futuro, a Brazilian agricultural company. The forest is known as the Chiquitano dry forest, and Mongabay shares that it is 74,179 acres. To put that into perspective, that is about the size of 56,000 American football fields. People have been sustainably managing this forest for years, but now it appears that that is all about to change. The agricultural company has plans to clear the land to make room for new cropland. Naturally, environmental groups are up in arms about this new land deal. The Chiquitano dry forest connects incredibly important biomes. Some of these biomes include the Amazon Rainforest and the Cerrado savannas. This Bolivian forest serves as a wildlife corridor, allowing them to safely pass between biomes.
Over the years, this forest has already suffered horrible deforestation, but now this new land deal is threatening one of Bolivia's forests in a staggering way. Mongabay shares that "clearing the 30,019-hectare plot, which is about three times the size of the city of Paris, would represent a significant ecological loss and accelerate the degradation and desertification of nearby Indigenous lands." This forest serves as a hub and transition zone for various wildlife species as well as Indigenous peoples. Demolishing it to make cropland will displace and directly affect both, which is bad news for everyone.
Why The Sudden Change?
Until recently, this essential plot of land was managed by a Dutch wood flooring manufacturer. Mongabay shares that the company "practiced selective logging of native hardwoods like Bolivian rosewood." However, in the process, they were also "helping Indigenous communities with similar practices." The company held many certifications for sustainable practices, but many have recently expired. The company's manager, Paul Roosenboom, shared that while he has been working on the land for close to two decades, he no longer possesses the resources to maintain it. Therefore, he made the difficult decision to sell the land.
"This is the best option for me, " he stated.
While it is perhaps the best financial option for him, I think many would agree that it is definitely not the best option for wildlife, Indigenous people, and the ecosystem as a whole. This new land deal may line the pockets of some, but it is threatening one of Bolivia's most vital forests and, in turn, the country as a whole.
