Mongabay · Natuur

Planned Bolivia-Brazil highway threatens Chiquitania dry forest

Bolivia has initiated technical studies for a highway connecting San Ignacio de Velasco in the Chiquitania region to Mato Grosso, Brazil. This project, driven by Brazilian agribusiness interests seeking land for cattle ranching and soy farming, is raising concerns among experts about accelerated deforestation in the Chiquitania, the largest tropical dry forest in the Americas.

The agreement to study the highway was signed by Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz on July 31, with the road intended to link San Ignacio de Velasco to Marfil on the Brazilian border, and then extend into Brazil. Experts warn this infrastructure will lead to significant environmental damage, increasing deforestation for agricultural expansion.

San Ignacio de Velasco, located in the heart of the Chiquitania, has become a focal point for deforestation in Bolivia, with agricultural expansion clearing vast areas of forest between 2017 and 2023. Corporate properties and state-owned land were major contributors to this clearing.

While Brazil has seen a slowdown in deforestation rates, Bolivia ranks second globally in tropical forest loss. The Chiquitania, a biodiverse biome, is particularly vulnerable due to its susceptibility to fires and agricultural expansion, having lost a larger proportion of native vegetation than other areas in the Amazon Basin.

Economists suggest the highway is designed to facilitate the expansion of Brazilian agribusiness into Bolivia, benefiting corporate farming rather than local communities. They note that the project, funded by debt, carries high environmental risks, exacerbating existing issues like droughts and climate change.

Bolivia's Ministry of Public Works states the 135-kilometer highway will improve connectivity, facilitate access to markets, and strengthen economic development. It aims to link Bolivia's highway system with Mato Grosso's network, forming a new strategic axis of the bioceanic corridor.

Brazilian businessman Eraí Maggi, known as the "soy king," is a key figure in this expansion, citing difficulties in Brazil as a reason for seeking opportunities in Bolivia. His company, Bom Futuro, is a major player in the Brazilian soy sector.

Tightening environmental regulations in Brazil are reportedly pushing agribusiness pressure into Bolivia, where cheaper land and less stringent regulations make it a new deforestation hotspot, particularly impacting the Chiquitania. This trend is driven by agricultural expansion and land tenure laws.

Valmir Moretto, a Mato Grosso state legislator, supports the highway, aiming to bring agricultural technology to Bolivia and boost development in his region. He views the project as a historic milestone for integration and economic opportunities.

Researchers highlight that the highway is part of a broader regional effort to expand agribusiness, driven by Brazil's need for new land for monoculture crops and efficient transport routes. The primary risks include deforestation, not only from construction but from subsequent land clearing for agriculture.

Concerns are also raised for Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo people, some of whom live in voluntary isolation. The highway could facilitate agricultural pressure into their territories. The debate centers on who benefits from the highway and at what cost to the environment and local populations.

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