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November 20, 2023

Climate Crisis and Slash-and-Burn Agriculture Drive Record Wildfires in Bolivia
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Bolivia's Environment Ministry reports a severe drought combined with
slash-and-burn farming practices have driven an unprecedented number of
wildfires. The fires have scorched nature reserves and Indigenous
communities in Bolivia's Amazon and into neighboring Brazil, killing
wildlife and triggering air quality alerts that have forced thousands of
schools to cancel classes. On Friday, environmentalists rallied in the
capital La Paz to demand government action.

Nataly Zamora: "Millions of animals are dying. Our Mother Earth is
dying. Our vegetation, fauna and flora are disappearing. There are
thousands of animals. The firemen who are there still cannot put out the
fire. We want a national emergency to be declared, because we want our
land to be safe."



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