Bolivia

In dozens of archaeological discoveries around the world, from the once-successful reservoirs and canals of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the deserted Viking colonies of Greenland, new evidence paints pictures of civilizations struggling with unforeseen climate changes and the reality that their farming practices had become unsustainable. Among these discoveries are also success stories, where ancient farming practices helped civilizations survive the hard times. Zuni farmers in the southwestern United States made it through long stretches of extremely low rainfall between A.D. 1200 and 1400 by embracing small-scale, decentralized irrigation systems. Farmers in Ghana coped with severe droughts from 1450 to 1650 by planting indigenous African grains, like drought-tolerant pearl millet. Ancient practices like these are gaining new interest today. As countries face unprecedented heat waves, storms and melting glaciers, some farmers and international development organizations are rea...

With the approval of Supreme Decree 5235, the president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, declared on Monday a state of national disaster due to the forest fires which are devastating the eastern part of the country in particular.The governorate of Santa Cruz - the area most affected by the fires - has in fact reported that, until last week, the flames consumed over 7.2 million hectares of forests and grasslands:this is the largest environmental disaster suffered in this region, where 27% of the national population resides and which it represents the economic engine and the main agricultural and livestock center of the country.Bolivia is not the only Latin American country having to face a scenario that seems increasingly uncontrollable:in fact, in the global silence, in Brazil almost 370 thousand square kilometers of forest have gone up in smoke in recent months. The Supreme Decree signed by the president of Bolivia has the aim of «protecting the environment, the health and lives of people...