Wildfires in Bolivia.
Over the past month and a half, Bolivia has suffered huge environmental damage from fires that have been raging out of control in the eastern lowlands. As October’s presidential elections approach, the issue has become increasingly politicised. Opposition parties criticise the government’s failure to act more decisively. The environmental costs of the fires will be long-lasting, although the human cost so far has been slight. The government has belatedly accepted international assistance.
Morales’s international reputation as an advocate of environmentalism may suffer further during campaigning.
International pressure on Bolivia to reduce fire risks will grow, but some of the promised aid may not be forthcoming.
The lack of state capacity to regulate economic activity in remote areas will hinder efforts to improve environmental protection methods.
