Bolivian authorities confirmed it in statements to the press. The detainees were discovered “red-handed” just as firefighters were carrying out an operation.
During this afternoon, the Bolivian police stopped To over half a hundred of people, under the charge of “provoking forest fires”, as reported today by various official sources. The damage reported in three natural reserves in the country would also be involved.
“Total there are 51 peoplebetween apprehended and arrested, who would be causing fires throughout the national territory and affecting the protected areas”, stated in a press conference government minister from Bolivia, Eduardo Del Castillo.
According to the official, these people had material flammable and they were burning “just when the operation was carried out”, as reported to the news agency AFP.
Which natural parks in Bolivia are affected by the fires?
The governorate of Santa Cruz, the most vigorous and populated area of the country, reported separately that the flames are affecting the natural Park Noel Kempff Mercadowhich has some 15,000 kilometers squares. The natural parks of Pilón Lajasof 4,000 square kilometers and madidialmost 19,000 square kilometers.
The report indicated that the flames already consumed, this year, around 2.9 million of hectares, of which 2 million are bushes and grasslands, while others 935,000 hectares, are cigars forests.
Fires in Bolivia: which departments are in critical condition
According to the latest report from the Ministry of the Environment, of the nine departments of the country register fires, those with the most serious situations are the northern region of Peace; Cochabamba (center), Santa Cruz (this) and Beni (northeast).
Del Castillo specified that “unfortunately there are cell phones that are economicalbut there are also mobile phones politiciansWell, there are people who are looking for generate terror and anxiety in the Bolivian population with Political purposes. “That’s why they are causing this damage.”
Burning grasslands and forests It is a common practice in Bolivia, especially to expand the agricultural frontier, generating these forest fires.
Source: Ambito
