Chiquitano Dry Forest in Bolivia in Danger: Europe Has a Say in the Future of Key Ecosystems in South America

On the occasion of Bolivia’s Chiquitano Dry Forest Day, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), together with indigenous organizations, warns that the future of one of South America’s most important ecosystems also depends on international supply chains and European trade policy. What is consumed and decided politically in Europe has direct consequences for indigenous territories, emphasize the STP, the Comité de Gestión (Management Committee) of the Tucabaca de Roboré Nature Reserve, the Comité Cívico (Citizens’ Committee) of the Movement for the Protection of the Tucabaca Valley, and the Quituquiña indigenous community from San José de Chiquitos.

The Chiquitano dry forest in Bolivia is the largest intact dry forest on Earth. The environmental Memorial Day on August 12 is intended to draw attention to its importance. The day originated as an initiative by indigenous youth groups and was established by law in 2025 by the Bolivian regional government of Santa Cruz.

“The Chiquitano dry forest is of great importance both to the local population and to the global climate. Indigenous communities and local authorities are therefore advocating for nature conservation measures, the restoration of damaged forest areas, and communally organized forms of land management. However, due to government support for the agribusiness sector and new investment projects in Indigenous territories, pressure on Bolivia’s forests continues to mount. This fuels forest fires and accelerates the exploitation of natural resources,” explains Jan Königshausen, Advisor on Indigenous Peoples at STP.

“We have been warning since 2015 that ongoing deforestation will lead to a severe water crisis, droughts, and ever-larger forest fires. Since 2019, we have been seeing these consequences more and more clearly. Nature is showing us what happens when deforestation continues year after year. There is increasing talk of climate and forest protection, yet in practice, the situation continues to worsen. At the same time, we indigenous communities are demonstrating that alternatives exist: We are resisting, protecting the remaining forests, and developing our own proposals for their conservation. “To do this, we need support—we cannot tackle this task on our own,” says Zoila Zeballos, president of the administrative committee of the “Bosque Pedagógico Los Piyos” municipal protected area in Quituquiña, San José de Chiquitos.

The growing international demand for agricultural commodities, as well as trade policy decisions by major markets such as China, India, and Egypt—but also Germany and the European Union—are reinforcing an economic model in South America that is geared toward increasing production and expanding exports. Trade agreements such as the EU-Mercosur Agreement could further intensify this trend, the organizations warn.

“Developments in the Chiquitanía region show that European trade policy has consequences far beyond Europe’s borders. If the European Union wants to be credible on climate and biodiversity protection, it must not push forward trade agreements that promote the expansion of agribusiness without ensuring the effective protection of forests and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Otherwise, Europe runs the risk of not only importing raw materials but also exporting deforestation,” says Jan Königshausen. The organizations are calling for the strengthening of the territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples and for national and international policies to be consistently aligned with human rights and climate protection.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at 65]G378o6DD6CA.