A Heroine Behind Flames

“The Amazon is not burning because it wants to burn, it is being burned.” In this way, indigenous leader Patricia Gualiga points to human responsibility as the cause of the fires in much of South America last year. One of the countries most heavily affected by forest fires was undoubtedly Bolivia. The flora and fauna of the Santa Cruz and Beni region were severely devastated, as the fires devastated an estimated 10 million hectares of forest and pastureland in the area, according to the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA). The main types of land ownership involved were large cattle ranches and communities settled on public lands. The fire forced the displacement of indigenous populations, as well as completely wiping out their crops and livelihoods, leaving many without any remaining sources of income. Likewise, the fires pose a real health hazard to the communities: the deteriorated air quality reduces lung function and aggravates diseases related to the respiratory organs, the ashes contaminate drinking water, and the inhalation of toxins released by the burning contributes to cognitive impairment.

On the other hand, in past years, other forest fires also occurred in the area, one being in the Chiquitanía in mid-2019, however, this is the first fire of such great magnitude: last year we closed September with four times more hot spots than last year. Such a fact leads us to the following question: why does this type of catastrophe happen again every year and, according to the number of hectares burned, it is getting worse and worse? The main causes are attributed to uncontrolled agricultural practices, known as “chaqueos” in Bolivia, which are supported by a set of programs and legislation, colloquially called “incendiary laws”, which allow the increase of the agricultural frontier in Bolivia of 12 million hectares. According to authorities, this series of laws seeks to support small and medium sized producers in the agricultural and livestock sector, however, it is often abused for the purpose of illegal land appropriation. The Cámara Agropecuaria del Oriente (CAO) reported that the productive sector as a whole only owns 29% of the land in the region, so 78.4% of the fire is on public lands and indigenous communities, demonstrating the ineffectiveness and significant collateral damage caused by this legislation. Likewise, penalties for illegal burning in Bolivia are the lowest in all of Latin America per hectare burned (the equivalent of 0.30 USD), resulting in widespread non-compliance with burning limits. After numerous protests in the Bolivian streets in favor of the abrogation of this set of laws, some modifications finally began to be made.

Despite recent changes, many still question the rationale for these policies and the reasons for the government's late action on the fires. According to official national reports, it took months of fires and more than seven hectares destroyed (i.e., when the fire was already uncontrollable) for the government to finally decide to take action. The government's disinterest in acting on the problem reflects its political interests: the government's close relationship with the agro-industrial and coca-growing sectors continues to hinder the implementation of stricter environmental regulations. The pressure these sectors exert on the government results in legislation that is entirely to their benefit, leaving aside the inhumane destruction they leave behind.

File photo of a firefighter working to contain a fire in a green area, in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. EFE/ Raphael Alves

In the face of such major disasters and precarious government assistance, voluntary and outside help is sorely needed. Here, volunteer firefighters, like Carmiña Paz, take responsibility for the matter. Carmiña Paz was trained as a kindergarten teacher and continues to work in a school; however, her commitment to her community continued to grow tirelessly, so that in 2018 she began operating as a volunteer firefighter in the city of La Paz. From there, she continues to be heavily involved with rescues, both as a departmental and national level, and has granted significant amounts of humanitarian aid.

As a result of her commitment to the firehouse, she became the first female commander of a firefighters' association in the city. However, this has not been easy for her. Carmiña has had to face constant criticism and mistreatment from many of her colleagues: “Our society is still strongly shaped by machismo. When they see you move forward, it is very difficult for them”. She also said that the prolonged physical strain during her shifts and being separated from her family for so long has been very difficult to bear: “That's why I always say that the real heroes are not really us, but our family. It hurts me a lot not to be able to communicate for several days with my daughter and leave her with that uncertainty.”

Although her journey has been far from simple, her motivations have managed to endure and are now much stronger. She says that her work is aimed at future generations: “You do not deserve a world like this. As an adult, I feel I have a responsibility to fight for a better place for you. In the same way, rooted in her values, she believes that we, human beings, are intrinsically caring beings, highlighting the importance of actively seeking a place where we can demonstrate our commitment and willingness to help.

Despite the fact that support from local authorities is really small, she hopes that, during her tenure, her headquarters will continue to grow and they can continue to expand their positive impact in our city and nationally. During last year's wildfires, she and her team helped significantly in the evacuation of people and animals, reducing the causalities of the disaster. Also, by reducing the extent of destruction, it was possible to limit economic losses in agriculture and infrastructure. On the other hand, by encouraging acts of solidarity in their daily lives, she and her team continue to inspire the next generation of leaders and generators of change: “I hope that more Bolivians can open their hearts and dedicate themselves, at least for a time in their lives, to others, because with dedication in brotherhood, there is no obstacle that can stop us.