Robore, Bolivia - October 08, 2024

In the midst of the devastating wave of fires ravaging Bolivia's Chiquitania, Quebracho Forest Firefighters are fighting tirelessly to put out the flames that are consuming vast areas of forest. Meanwhile, dense smoke is severely affecting the town of Robore, where pollution has forced classes to be suspended as early as 10 a.m. This is the reality of a community suffocated by the environmental crisis, while local heroes are fighting the fire to protect their land and their people.

Robore, located in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia, is known for its rich biodiversity and vegetation, which includes tropical dry forests, savannas and transition areas between the Amazon and the Gran Chaco. The flora of the area is diverse, with native trees such as quebracho, cuchi and soto, essential for the local fauna and the conservation of the ecosystem.

In recent years, fires caused, in part by slash-and-burn practices and by followers of Evo Morales, have devastated thousands of hectares of this vegetation. These fires have been fueled by the expansion of the agricultural frontier and the clearing of land for crops and livestock. As a result, large areas of forest have been consumed, which has seriously affected the ecological balance and air quality, generating an environmental crisis in Robore and its surroundings.