Role in FIRE-ADAPT: contribute to work packages (WPs) 1 – Carbon dynamics, 2 – Biodiversity conservation, and 3 – (Inter)cultural services and human well-being.
Organisation: Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN)
Country: Bolivia
What motivated me to join FIRE-ADAPT
In recent years, I think we´ve learned the importance of generating spaces for dialogue for the exchange of experiences. In many of our countries there are specific actions that we´ve been developing, and the need to exchange experiences to provide feedback is essential to adapt to the conditions of the terrain and place where we work. I believe that FIRE-ADAPT presents an opportunity by generating a space for the exchange of experiences in two regions with somewhat different contexts and realities (Latin America and Europe). I mean the ecological, social, economic, and political contexts. And the same in South America, since in each of our countries there are different realities and contexts. The interesting thing is that there are procedures, protocols, and methodologies to implement topics that have to do with what we talked about at the Spain Study Hub, such as prescribed burns, their associated carbon dynamics, and the impact on biodiversity.
We´ve worked in many Latin American countries, and it´s been done a lot in Europe. We are interested in seeing how we find and agree in terms of strategies and apply them to our regions, which are culturally very rich. At least in South America, with indigenous and rural communities, everything we are working on with modeling and monitoring of forest fires is very interesting.
About my secondment with Pau Costa Foundation (PCF) in Spain, during the activities of its Study Hub
What the objectives of my secondmen were
In Bolivia, from FAN, we are promoting a comprehensive vision of fire management. 60-70% of what burns in Bolivia is grasslands, and 30-40% forests, that is fire-dependent and sensitive ecosystems. The management of fires and the associated carbon dynamics is something that interests us and that we are already developing. We are also interested in everything associated with the impact on biodiversity (fauna and flora) due to the dimension of wildfires in Bolivia, both in the Amazon and the dry forests, Chaco, and Pantanal. Knowing the work of other regions is very important, and a strength of ours is the work with communities, that cultural aspect. Something that motivated us to participate in this Study Hub was to be able to find allies and opportunities for knowledge exchange between different organisations with experience in research matters, governance, etc. We have already defined a first agenda with PCF, with whom we have been collaborating for some time on prescribed burns, and we have started conversations with other organisations to define lines of joint work.
How my secondment benefited PCF
Jordi Vendrell, General Manager of PCF, had visited Bolivia. Knowing the local context for addressing fire management in indigenous and rural communities and local governments establishes a more strategic understanding, grounded on the terrain and aligned with the objectives of the Foundation, which works beyond its headquarters in Catalonia. I agreed with the entire PCF team on the great job opportunities that exist in Bolivia understanding its social, ecological, cultural, and political context. What we do with local and indigenous communities, which is the result of the work of many years, allows us to address methodologies for actions of preparation, prevention, early warning, first response, and restoration, which is something that also interests the Foundation.
What is different about the realities of fires in Bolivia and Spain
Our economic, logistical, and administrative constraints, and I think the same happens in many Latin American countries. For the management of wildfires themselves, there is an abysmal difference with what people work with in Spain. Implementing a fire management programme with all its components is not easy. Beyond methodological issues or how to address certain points, which is what motivates us to work here in Bolivia, we want to see how we generate alliances with fund management to cover logistical and resource needs a little.
During the meeting at the Study Hub, we visited a park where 1 000 ha were burned with a large deployment of 500 people and a restoration plan with 2 000 000 €. We have very large fires. Medium fires exceed 70 000 ha. Then we have much larger fires, above 100 000 ha, burning a single region. And we’re deploying 300 people… So, the difference between these realities in terms of access to resources is abysmal.
This is me
Favourite food: churrasco
Favourite film: The Lord of the Rings, by Peter Jackson
Favorite music: Depends on my mood, rock or tropical music.
I admire: Jesus
In Bolivia, I’d take you to: La Chiquitanía. It is a unique place with a deep-rooted and rich cultural identity, an impressive ecosystem, and a people that, in addition to maintaining a cultural identity, seeks to live in harmony with nature and defends its natural heritage.