Activists in Santa Cruz demand urgent action against devastating wildfires.

This Wednesday, dozens of activists gathered in Santa Cruz to protest against the devastating wildfires that have affected the region in recent weeks. The demonstration was organized by the Citizen Movement Against Wildfires and began at the Student Plaza, culminating at the iconic September 24 Plaza, where participants held a reading of statements demanding the immediate cessation of deforestation and forest burning. The protesters, carrying banners with powerful messages such as "No more wildfires" and "The smoke has its culprits," denounced what they call an "ecocide." To date, the fires have consumed over 2 million hectares just in Santa Cruz, an alarming fact that has resonated deeply within civil society. The situation has led many to raise their voices in defense of nature and demand immediate measures to contain the disaster. The phenomenon of wildfires is not new in Bolivia. In 2019, the country suffered one of the worst ecological disasters of the last decade, with more than 5 million hectares burned. The tradition of 'chaqueos,' controlled burns to prepare agricultural land, has been identified as one of the main causes of the uncontrolled fires that consume the country's flora and fauna. Activists argue that these practices, far from being harmless, trigger environmental catastrophes that worsen each year. Ezequiel Chávez, an activist from the Tree Collective, expressed his concern about the current situation, stating that in just two months there has been an alarming increase in the number of fires. "We're at the end of August and this is out of control, it even trends to surpass the fires of 2019," Chávez warned. His voice is just one of many rising in a context where public health is also compromised, as the smoke from the fires has reached urban areas, deteriorating air quality in Santa Cruz. The protest was not only a symbolic act but also represented an urgent call to authorities. The protesters demanded that the government of Luis Arce declare a "national disaster" due to the fires and halt land distribution policies that allow for burning. Additionally, they requested the repeal of so-called "incendiary laws," regulations that legalize controlled burns and have faced criticism for years. In response to the growing concern, President Arce took to social media to assure the public that his government is in "permanent alert" to combat the fires. He announced that they have managed to extinguish 39 fires across the country so far, mobilizing over 2,600 forest firefighters. However, many activists believe these actions are insufficient given the magnitude of the ecological crisis. The government has deployed significant resources, including vehicles and aircraft to combat the fires in critical areas, particularly in the municipalities of San Ignacio de Velasco and Concepción, as well as in other affected regions. Despite these efforts, distrust among citizens persists, and many demand a more effective and coordinated response to address the root of the problem. The situation in Santa Cruz has become a focal point of social discontent, and activists have announced a new mobilization for Friday, called by the state university of the region, which promises to intensify pressure on the government to act more decisively in protecting the country's natural resources. In a context where climate change and biodiversity loss are increasingly evident, the fight of the people of Santa Cruz against wildfires becomes a symbol of resistance. The health of the environment and the quality of life for future generations depend on responsible and sustainable decisions that must be made today. The community, united in its cry, seeks not only to preserve the forests of Santa Cruz but also to send a powerful message: it is time to act and prioritize the protection of our environment. Life on the planet depends on collective action and the political will to confront this environmental crisis.