Forest Fires in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Abstract

Forest fires in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, have become a chronic and recurring socio-environmental crisis, consuming millions of hectares of tree cover annually and threatening the integrity of ecosystems, the livelihoods of Indigenous and rural communities, and regional economic stability. This research is a meta-synthesis of 25 academic, institutional, and journalistic sources (2020–2025) that examines the etiology and multidimensional effects of this problem. The results demonstrate a direct correlation between the expansion of agribusiness and the incidence of fires, with 70% associated with the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture, exacerbated by a permissive regulatory framework, such as the "fire laws" (Law No. 741/2015 and Law No. 1171/2019). Among the most significant impacts are economic losses in the millions of dollars, an 8% increase in rural poverty rates, and violations of the human rights of Indigenous peoples. The applied socio-legal analysis reveals the structural deficiencies of Environmental Law No. 1333/1992, whose sanctions regime is insufficient and lacks effective integration of Indigenous knowledge. It concludes that the unregulated expansion of agribusiness is the underlying factor of the problem, and therefore proposes specific legislative reforms, including the prohibition of burning in vulnerable ecosystems, the strengthening of penalties, and the creation of binding mechanisms for community participation. This study contributes to the U.A.G.R.M. Science Expo. 2025 provides a basis for the development of viable and sustainable public policies, in line with SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities) of the 2030 Agenda (United Nations, 2015). Keywords: Forest fires, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, meta-synthesis, environmental law, climate change..