Enough of forest fires

Abstract

Bolivian tropical forests have never been as undervalued as they have been in the past two decades. In particular, the Chiquitano dry forests, despite being the best-conserved dry forest ecosystems, are suffering from devastating wildfires, a consequence of human greed, as individuals seek to benefit from a piece of land in these regions after the disaster. This reflects a purely mercantilist and selfish perspective. The studies that highlight the fragility of these forests are of no use, nor are the data on biodiversity and endemism that these ecosystems harbor. It is futile to assert that the Chiquitano dry forests are the ancestral home of the eastern peoples of this territory known as Bolivia. Demonstrating that forests are more than just timber, more than mere agricultural land, and more than territories for the thousands of indigenous families who have inhabited these lands for centuries in complete harmony with them, holds little value. The total economic value of the forest encompasses values that are not traded in the market, such as existence value, option value, direct value, and indirect value. These concepts have been defined by environmental economists and acknowledged by modern scientists. It is essential to recognize these forest values beyond products like timber or resources like soil. Acknowledging the environmental services provided by forests is crucial, as these very services vanish when forests are burned or converted into agricultural lands.

The challenge lies with civil society in selecting leaders who possess an environmental consciousness, enabling them to implement policies that support the preservation of standing forests, establish limits on the expansion of agricultural and livestock frontiers, and combat land trafficking by irregular groups. The generation of wealth through agriculture is closely linked to the provision of environmental services derived from forests. Without these services, neither agriculture nor livestock farming can be sustainable, nor can life in environments affected by climate change. At the Tropical Forestry Journal, we advocate for the emergence of leaders with environmental awareness, who can halt this anti-forest behavior and repeal incendiary laws before the damage becomes irreversible.