The Santa Cruz Amazon

"It makes world history. Earth is the mother of all", said Bolivian Vice-President Alvaro García Linera of the Law of Mother Earth. "It establishes a new relationship between man and nature, the harmony of which must be preserved as a guarantee of its regeneration." Let us dedicate ourselves to that”


"The right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered"

 "She is sacred, fertile and the source of life that feeds and cares for all living beings in her womb. She is in permanent balance, harmony and communication with the cosmos. 
She is comprised of all ecosystems and living beings, and their self-organisation."

- Law of Mother Earth, a revolutionary set of laws, that grants nature equal rights to humans--a first of its kind, passed in October, 2012, by Bolivian lawmakers...

SANTA CRUZ AMAZON   
HOME ADDRESS
17° 20′ 0″ S, 61° 30′ 0″ W
Its territory covers an area of ​​370,621 km ²,  comparable to the area of Japan.

The Amazon River Basin takes up about forty percent of  South America, encompassing parts of  Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and Bolivia. Among the  nine  departments that comprise Bolivia, Santa Cruz  is the largest and the wealthiest, with the most abundant natural gas reserves. It is also home to a diverse wildlife as well as the origin of about two-thirds of all the fresh water and over twenty percent of the oxygen on earth. While the Amazon has been offering humanity invaluable, vital resources, sadly it has not been corresponded in kind. 

Past and Present of the Santa Cruz Amazon

BEFORE
It is estimated that Bolivian Amazon had been explored by humans approximately 10,000 years ago. Researchers tried using a carbon dating method to investigate the traces of human settlements and confirmed that the forested islands in that region are shell middens left by human settlers, which makes this spot "the oldest archaeological site in southern and western Amazonia" (Foley 2013). Anthropogenic activities that caused deforestation began with Jesuit missions in Santa Cruz. With the emergence of settlements, Santa Cruz became an agriculture center in the 1950s. By the 1970s, the production of corn, rice, sugar, and citrus directly led to dramatic increase in deforested areas. The Santa Cruz Amazon area was covered by the most valuable semi-deciduous tropical forest in South America. In terms of ecologic and soil capacities, this type of forest has been almost completely eliminated elsewhere in South America. Clearing of forest jumped from around 20,000 hectares per year in early 90´s to around 100,000 hects per year in 1998 (Hecht 2005).

NOW
The original tropical forest in Bolivia is estimated at about 90,000 sq. km, and as per the latest estimated studies, (2007) the forest has decreased to around 45,000 sq. km. The tropical deforestation is growing at an average rate of 1,500 square kilometers per year and the Santa Cruz tropical forest accounts for 83% of such tropical forest in Bolivia, making this area a deforestation “hot spot” in South america (Keellian et al. 2007).

<abdrebaertschi.photoshleter.com/gallery-list>

Deforestation status of Bolivian Amazon

<http://infoamazonia.org/2012/12/deforestation-and-burning-grow-in-the-bolivian-amazon/#!/story=post-3721&loc=-12.336487733842,-66.262676025391,7>

How people have impacted the ecosystem

Until the late 1990s the economic development has come at the loss of much of the existing tropical forest.  A principal factor has been the development of  mechanized
agriculture, accounting for more than 50% of deforestation. (Muller 2011)

  The main reasons behind the growth of mechanized agriculture can be
summarized by the following four aspects (Muller 2011):

• The Santa Cruz area attracts a high amount of private investment capital (Muller 2011).
• Rich soil conditions make big crop production, such as soy, wheat, and sugar very attractive due to high yields (Muller 2011).
• Important infra-structure development in the San Cruz area, such as good roads, railways and river connections, make it suitable for smooth export movement, and make this area highly competitive compared to neighboring Brazil, Paraguay, or north Argentina (Muller 2011).
• Governmental support policies for export development and settlement growth in the amazon area (Muller 2011). 

Other factors are cattle breeding, about 30%, (Muller 2011). 

          

Deforestation undermines the capacity of the ecosystem to maintain freshwater, regulate climate and air quality, and  ameliorate infectious diseases. Bolivia faces the challenge of managing trade-offs between immediate human needs and maintaining the capacity of the biosphere to provide goods and services in the long term. (Foley 2005) 


https://climatechangeslife.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/nasa-gallery-state-of-flux/deforestation_bolivia1/

Recent studies, though, suggest relatively lower rates of deforestation  and a considerable reduction in less than a decade, in the Amazon. ( Boucher, 2013)  Perhaps an indication of Bolivia's President Evo Morales' committment to healing Mother Earth...

"Sisters and brothers, today our Mother Earth is ill. From the beginning of the 21st century we have lived the hottest years of the last thousand years.  Global warming is generating abrupt changes in the weather

It is fundamental to develop alternative forms of power, such as solar, geothermal, wind and hydroelectric both at small and medium scales.

Agrofuels are not an alternative, because they put the production of foodstuffs for transport before the production of food for human beings. Agrofuels expand the agricultural frontier destroying forests and biodiversity, generate monocropping, promote land concentration, deteriorate soils, exhaust water sources, contribute to rises in food prices and, in many cases, result in more consumption of more energy than is produced" -Evo Morales (Morales 2008)

Benefits of the ecosystem

The substance and sustenance of  life  on earth are dependent on the health of the ecosystem. 

The benefits we derive  include but are not limited to the following.

• It is crucial to our climate and helps limit the extent and worst consequences of global warming (Costanza, Robert, et al1997)
• The forest acts like an enormous air conditioner and cools the whole planet by 1-2°C as well as helping to control rainfall and humidity in several parts of the world (Costanza, Robert, et al1997)
• The trees in the Amazon rainforest are thought to absorb over 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year (Costanza, Robert, et al 1997)
• Many modern medicines originate from plants found in the Amazon (Costanza, Robert, et al 1997)
• Purification of water and air (Han, D. 2012)
• Minerals (Han, D. 2012)
• Hydro-power & biomass fuels (Han, D. 2012)
• Carbon sequestration (Han, D. 2012)
• Detoxification(Han, D. 2012)

What the Santa Cruz Amazon gives us

<http://www.arkive.org/brazil-nut-tree/bertholletia-excelsa/image-G36969.html>

  Coca Leaf

<http://dialogo-americas.com/en_GB/articles/rmisa/features/regional_news/2013/01/22/feature-ex-3845>

Bolivia is the no.1 producer of Brazil nuts, which are extremely important resources for people living near Bolivian Amazon. At the same time, Bolivia is the third largest producer of coca. Although the United Nations has been keeping an eye on the production of coca to prevent any possibility for coca leaves being abused into illegal production of cocaine, coca leaf, itself, has high nutritious and medicinal potential. "Compared with other foods, coca has been scientifically proven to be one of the most (if not the

most) nutritious crops grown in the region. Coca has more vitamin A than carrots, twice the calcium of milk, and is also rich in phosphorus, potassium, iron, vitamins B2 and E, carbohydrates,fiber, and proteins. Chewing 100 grams of coca is enough to satisfy the nutritional needs of an adult for 24 hours." (Forsberg 2011) Bolivia is currently trying to persuade the United Nations to legalize chewing of coca leaf, and China expressed a strong interest in importing coca leaves to make teas.

<http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=3155>

<http://dialogo-americas.com/en_GB/articles/rmisa/features/regional_news/2013/01/22/feature-ex-3845>

Protected areas and their status

In Santa Cruz, there are 30 protected areas with government protection status (as
National protected areas, Regional State protected areas and Municipal protected areas).  There are another 35 protected areas under under private endowment protection. In total, both governmental and private protection areas account for a total  of 12.5 million hects. (Hecht, 2005)

     The main protected areas are Amboro National Park  and 

                                                     Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (NKM).

The Amboro National park is probably the largest in South America. From the late 50’s, its surroundings have been strongly impacted by agriculture, cattle-ranching and other activities, such as exotic animal hunting, etc. It will be difficult for this Park to keep its nominal protection status in view of the strong demand for survival tree cutting activities, agricultural drive/needs, as well as energy source exploitation, mainly natural gas. This is also affected by the rise of anti-conservationist politicians  who favor the exploitation of natural resources.(Hecht, 2005)

In the case of NKM, the situation is a bit different in view of the development of valuable conservation projects involving the growth of alternative or complementary economic activities for its local communities, which may not involve the direct use of
natural land, or forestry resources (Hecht, 2005). This  approach is also favored by the Bolivian government which has committed to decreasing carbon dioxide emission rates, which in turn  positively impact the growth of environmentally friendly economic activities(Hecht, 2005).  The  government enacted  legislation, euphemistically called "The Mother Earth Law" (spanish "La Ley de la Madre Tierra") Viz. that we should not treat the earth any different than we would treat our mother, which tries to   highlight the government approach for a healthy stewardship of  the natural environment. 

What can be done to maintain balance between people and the ecosystem

In Bolivia's case, a delicate balance must be reached between, on the one hand, continuing economic development (Viz. An increased gross domestic product, and higher living standards for all the people) and on the other hand, the preservation of unique natural resources.  Especially the tropical Amazon forest (Muller 2011).

This is a somewhat delicate balance to maintain as there are strong external pressures from multinational corporations, and internal pressures from local economic and

political interest groups.  With regard to internal political interests there is a greater awareness of ancestral tradition in the current political climate. (Muller 2011).

In the particular case of Bolivia and its context, two actions must be taken immediately. First, Bolivia should reduce the cattle-ranching activities. It accounts for about one-thirds of forests being cut down, but cattle-ranching has been proven less profitable than small or large-scale agriculture. The expansion of cattle-ranching will continue to require the clearance of the lands.

<http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/AGPC/doc/Counprof/Bolivia/Bolivia.htm>

Also, the policy that developed nations pay the forested nations has to be internationally enacted. Deforestation accounts for about twenty percents of global warming, and the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by the United States in 2011 was 6,702 million metric tons. It seems reasonable that forested countries are paid heavily for slowing down the effects of global warming and climate change. In that way, forested nations, including Bolivia, will not need to reduce their own forests to reinforce economic activities.

Bolivian government has enacted a law which requires all landowners who had done illegal logging prior to 2011 to reforest the damaged areas and imposes reduced fines on them. Also, Bolivia is a member of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) which strives to curb illegal logging frequently occurring in the Amazon. Bolivia's such effort of eliminating illegal logging will significantly contribute to slowing down the rapidly accelerating rate of deforestation.

......Ways to improve human impact on the ecosystem

Collective knowledge will revolutionize the world

 Make all  inequities responsible for harming Mother Earth famous....among all 7+ billion people...   
(short term gain for a few, long term harm to all, climate, nature, humans.....“if it's not good for everyone, it's no good at all" unbuntu philosophy)

e.g.

Between 2005 and 2010, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP reduced their U.S. workforces by 11,200 workers¹⁰ but pocketed $4 billion a year in tax subsidies. Globally, subsidies to the fossil fuel industry top $550 billion every year,^11,12 at least 12 times any subsidies given to energy efficiency and renewable energy.¹³ In 2011, ExxonMobil made $5 million in profit every hour, or more than $41 billion, but paid lower taxes than the average American.¹⁰ In 2012, as oil prices hit $120 a barrel, oil companies made an additional $5 billion from American workers.¹⁴ Prices could reach as high as $250 a barrel if Iran blockades the Strait of Hormuz.¹⁵

(Lovins, 2012)

e.g. between 1918 and 2009, the oil and gas industry received a cumulative $446.96 billion in subsidies compared to just $5.93 billion given to renewables in the years between 1994 and 2009. Meanwhile, the nuclear industry benefitted from a cumulative $185.38 billion in federal subsidies between 1947 and 1999(Pfund et al, 2011).

“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”

―Bill Mollison

                               

The German town Wildpoldsried is  producing 321 percent more energy than it uses and selling the excess for $5.7 million each year.³⁸ Over half of Germany’s renewables are owned not by utilities but by farmers and citizens.³ Denmark’s Samso Island is 100 percent renewably powered.³⁷ -The failure of global leadership to agree to climate protection at Copenhagen, Cancún, and Durban has spurred these cities  to implement sustainable practices.

(Lovins, 2012)


 References 

Lovins, Hunter. (Jun 07, 2012). A World That Works for All. Solutions, Volume 3(Issue 3). Retrieved from http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com

Pfund, Nancy, and Ben Healey. "What Would Jefferson Do?." DBL Investors, September (2011).

Hecht, S. B. 2005. Soybeans, Development and Conservation on the Amazon Frontier. Development and Change 36:375-404.

Foley, Jonathan A., et al. "Global consequences of land use." science 309.5734 (2005): 570-57. 

Han, D. 2012. Concise Environmental Engineering. Ventus Publishing Aps.
Forsberg, Alan. "The Wonders of the Coca Leaf." 

Costanza, Robert, et al. "The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital." nature 387.6630 (1997): 253-260.
Boucher, Doug.The Equation.Three Datasets Agree: Amazon Deforestation Has Been Reduced
Sr. Scientist & Dir., Climate Research and Analysis. 12 March  2013. Web. 27 Nov 13

Muller, Daniel et al. (2011): Proximate Causes of Deforestation in the Bolivian Lowlands: An Analysis of Spacial Dynamics.” Published Online.  Germany 
Morales, Evo. Movementgeneration. A Letter from President Evo Morales about Climate Change and the International Crises. 28 Nov 2008 Web. 27 Nov 2013

http://gepgraphy.about.com/library/cia/blcbolivia.htm  
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Ecosystem-Services.aspx
http://www.boliviabella.com/our-santa-cruz.html
http://www.opinion.com.bo/opinion/articulos/2013/0903/noticias.php?id=104988
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/imprimir.php/id-091113222308 http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
http://www.cifor.org/online0library/browse/view-publication/publication/787.htm

competition and thirst for limitless profit are destroying the planet.
Sisters and brothers, today our Mother Earth is ill. From the beginning of the 21st century we have lived the hottest years of the last thousand years.
Global warming is generating abrupt changes in the weather: the retreat of glaciers and the decrease of the polar ice caps; the increase of the sea level and the flooding of coastal areas, 
where approximately 60% of the world population live;
the increase in the processes of desertification and the decrease of fresh water sources;
a higher frequency in natural disasters that the communities of the earth suffer[1];
the extinction of animal and plant species; and the spread of diseases in areas that before were free from those diseases.
One of the most tragic consequences of the climate change is that some nations and territories are the condemned to disappear by the increase of the sea level.
- See more at: http://emergent-culture.com/bolivias-president-showing-the-way-to-ecological-salvage-responsibility/#sthash.EoAYLJEi.dpuf

Costanza, Robert, et al. "The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital." nature 387.6630 (1997): 253-260.

http://gepgraphy.about.com/library/cia/blcbolivia.htm http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Ecosystem-Services.aspx
http://www.boliviabella.com/our-santa-cruz.html
http://www.opinion.com.bo/opinion/articulos/2013/0903/noticias.php?id=104988
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/imprimir.php/id-091113222308 http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
http://www.cifor.org/online0library/browse/view-publication/publication/787.htm



ps...the depictions below are  of Borneo...one of them was mistakenly posted on this blog representing Bolivia (thanks very much for the alert G.M. , in comments).....will leave it here  and have added another as well..disturbing, sad....

Borneo Deforestation, 1950 - 2012 

© Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Land use and land cover change in Borneo (1973–2015)

From: Rapid conversions and avoided deforestation: examining four decades of industrial plantation expansion in Borneo

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep32017