Bolivian farmers must choose between continuing the practice of burning land for agriculture or switching to tree planting, especially after last year’s catastrophic wildfires resulted in the loss of over 10 million hectares of tropical forest. This decision is critical in addressing the increasing severity of droughts in the region.
In the wake of Bolivia’s most devastating wildfires, farmers are confronted with a critical decision: to clear land for agriculture by burning or to adopt tree planting as a strategy to combat worsening droughts. The Bolivian Institute for Forest Research (IBIF) reported that approximately 10.7 million hectares (26.4 million acres) of dry tropical forest were lost last year, which is roughly equivalent to the area of Portugal. This destruction has led to increased risks of drought, prioritizing long-term sustainability over immediate agricultural needs.
Bolivia’s farmers face a pivotal choice between burning land for agricultural expansion and cultivating trees to mitigate environmental crises. The recent extensive forest loss has heightened the urgency of adopting sustainable practices to ensure the resilience of agriculture and the ecosystem amid climate challenges.
Original Source: www.djournal.com
