Fires are devastating Madidi National Park in western Bolivia, one of the world's richest biodiversity areas. About 30,000 hectares burned.
Madidi National Park, located on the eastern slopes of the Andes, is considered one of the 10 most biodiverse parks in the world. It covers an area of nearly 19,000 square kilometers.
The fire broke out in the southern part of the park. According to data from Thursday, the fire has burned approximately 30,000 hectares, half of which is swampy savanna, which is valuable for this area. – We flew for half an hour and were unable to get from one end of the fire to the other – said Radamir Sevillanos from the park service.
There are many plant and animal species at risk of extinction in Madidi. It is the second largest jaguar population in South America. 270 species of mammals and over 1,200 species of birds live there.
A record year
Bolivia is experiencing the worst forest fires in history this year. More than 10 million hectares have burned since the beginning of the year, with Brazil's neighboring tropical departments of Santa Cruz and Beni in the east of the country suffering the most. Most fires are the result of human activity, but according to scientists, recent intense heat waves and droughts on this continent, associated with climate change, contribute to the faster spread of fire.
Reuters, PAP, tvnmeteo.pl
Main photo source: Reuters