Throughout 2024, thick clouds of smoke have engulfed much of Bolivia, the result of record fires intensifying in the region.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image (right) of burn scars in the Beni department of northern Bolivia on November 30, 2024. The other image ( left) shows the same area on May 6, 2024, before the most intense fires occurred.
In these false color images (bands 7-2-1), forests appear green, burned areas yellow and orange, while surface water is tinted with shades of blue. Suspended sedimentation in water can change the appearance of water bodies, with higher sediment concentrations producing lighter tones of blue. The green shades have been darkened to make it easier to distinguish burned areas. The degree of regeneration, intensity of combustion and types of fuels involved can also influence the appearance of affected areas. Red areas likely indicate more recent or more severe burns than yellow areas.
Satellites detect large numbers of fires across Bolivia each year, but 2024 marked a dramatic increase. The months of June, July and September all broke records, according to an analysis of MODIS data from Aqua carried out by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). In total, satellites observed an incredible 89,725 fires as of December 3, the largest number detected in a single year since records began by Aqua MODIS in 2002, surpassing the previous record of 83,119 fires in 2010.
The Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), a fire monitoring system based on data from MODIS and VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) satellites, reported more than 15 million hectares burned in Bolivia in 2024, an area more larger than that of Greece. Estimates of fire emissions, provided by the Copernicus Service's Global Fire Assimilation System, calculate carbon emissions at more than 100 mega-tons, the highest in the past two decades.
-Clearing and burning of pastures are common causes of fires in Bolivia. The region has also suffered exceptional drought in recent months. The fires also ravaged several other departments, including Pando, La Paz and Santa Cruz, affecting different types of forests, including tropical forests, dry forests of Chiquitano and Gran Chaco.
NASA Earth Observatory images and graphics by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview, fire detection data from INPE, and burned area data from GWIS. Article by Adam Voiland.
It is crucial to consider that such an increase in fires in Bolivia is not just a climatic event, but often the result of unsustainable agricultural practices and land management policies. We must redouble our efforts to raise awareness among decision-makers and local communities of the importance of a sustainable approach that respects the fragile balance of our ecosystem. Bridging the gap between development and conservation is essential to the survival of our forests and, by extension, our planet. Engaging in a nourishing and inclusive dialogue on these challenges is more necessary than ever to consider viable solutions.
