Environmental problems in Bolivia

The increase in fires in countries such as Bolivia is no accident, since they are closely associated with the Expansion of the agricultural-livestock border. Many times, true Areas of interest are deforested from the use of fire with the objective of later establishing different crops or cattle. This problem added to drought, high temperatures, soil misuse and fire managementbones that are illegally caused and government lack and disability for decision -making, lead to increase in fires.

In fact, the fire generated between August and November 2019 in Bolivia was one of the most important ecological disasters, affecting more than 6.4 million hectares corresponding to forests and meadows.

We recommend reading our articles on the consequences of forest fires and how to prevent forest fires.

The mining activity in Bolivia has a trajectory of more than 500 years and currently has increased considerably due to the increase in mineral prices In the market.

During the extraction and concentration of different minerals, the original landscapes are completely transformed, Water and soil are contaminated for the discharge of waste that are not treated properly and Toxic gases are emitted to the atmosphere.

Another problem is associated with the environmental liabilities that are generated when the mines are abandoned or closed, since many of the resulting sulfur concentrations generate acidic waters with high concentration of heavy metals that, not being treated, reach nearby water courses.

Another of the great concerns is related to the presence of alluvial miners dedicated to the extraction of gold, near national parks As, for example, Madidi.

The excessive use of agrochemicals or agrotoxic due to the increase in land extension for crops, mainly transgenic monocultures driven by the dominant production system, Contamin the bodies of water, foodcauses the soil degradation and pollution and puts the health of all living beings at risk.

In Bolivia, more than 70% of the total registered agrochemicals have a high toxicity and danger and among them glyphosate, paraquat and attracer stand out.

Here you can read more about agrotoxic: what are, types and use.

The inadequate waste management, its incorrect dispositionadded to bad habits of societies and many citizensthey bring us another very complex problem. However, there are viable options that can help improve this situation and in this article we present five of them:

• The decrease in consumption. We recommend you read about what is responsible consumption.
• The correct separation of waste.
• The realization of compost from organic waste.
• The rejection of single -use plastics.
• The reuse of materials.

If we think about, there are no waste in nature: all elements are recycled in cyclic processes. Those responsible for excessive waste generation always went and we will be human beings.

Bolivia, like so many other countries, is vulnerable to the consequences produced by climate change And many of them are already impacting today:

• Droughts
• Floods
• Changes in the rainy regime.
• Temperature increases.

The newly mentioned are just some of the many consequences that this phenomenon brings to the global level. We must be aware that in order to face these new conditions they are necessary Flexible and integral plans of adaptation that aim to prevent and protect populations against the effects of climate change.

In this other post you can know the effects of climate change.

Many of the soils belonging to the Bolivian territory, especially those of the Altiplano and the inter -Andean valleys, suffer processes of degradation and desertification of soils. This is mainly due to the dominant productive model that uses inappropriate techniques, both in agricultural and livestock activities (overparation), leading to fertile soils to become deserts in which The soil has completely lost its productive potential.

This not only causes great loss of biodiversitybut it means a Risk in Food and Health Safetysince in these territories a large number of people who depend on these lands for survival inhabit.

You can inform yourself better about these issues by reading these other articles on what is the degradation of the soil and desertification: definition, causes and consequences.

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