According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, record-breaking wildfires engulfed Bolivia in 2024, with thick smoke and scorched landscapes marking the year.
Satellite imagery from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the scale of the damage.
Images from May and November 2024 of Beni, a northern Bolivian department, reveal extensive burn scars, with forests appearing green, burned areas in yellow and orange, and water bodies in varying shades of blue.
Higher sediment concentrations in water, visible as lighter blue tones, were among the environmental effects captured.
The intensity of the fires varied across regions, with red areas in the images indicating the most severe or recent burns.
In 2024, Bolivia saw 89,725 fires detected by Aqua MODIS satellites, as analyzed by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
This surpassed the previous record of 83,119 fires set in 2010.
Fire activity in June, July, and September broke monthly records, and by December 3, the yearly total exceeded any recorded since Aqua MODIS data collection began in 2002.
The Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) reported that more than 15 million hectares burned in Bolivia in 2024—an area larger than Greece.
Emissions from these fires exceeded 100 megatons of carbon, marking the highest levels in over two decades, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
Wildfires in Bolivia are frequently linked to land clearing and pasture burning, which are common agricultural practices.
In 2024, these activities coincided with an exceptional drought, exacerbating fire conditions.
Multiple departments, including Pando, La Paz, and Santa Cruz, experienced widespread fires, affecting ecosystems such as tropical rainforests, Chiquitano dry forests, and the Gran Chaco.
The environmental impact of these fires underscores the interplay between human activity and climatic factors.
Burned landscapes varied in severity, with some areas experiencing more intense damage than others.
NASA Earth Observatory collaborated with agencies like INPE and GWIS to document the wildfire crisis using MODIS and VIIRS satellite data.
Imagery and data analysis provided by NASA’s Michala Garrison leveraged advanced fire detection and atmospheric monitoring systems to quantify the scale and emissions of the wildfires.
By integrating data from multiple sources, researchers provided a comprehensive view of the fires’ extent and impact.
These tools are critical for understanding how wildfires evolve and affect local and global environments.
Bolivia experienced an unprecedented wildfire crisis in 2024, with 89,725 fires detected, surpassing the previous record of 83,119 in 2010.
According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, satellite imagery revealed extensive burn scars across northern Bolivia, particularly in the Beni department.
Human activities such as land clearing and pasture burning, coupled with severe drought, contributed to the fires.
Over 15 million hectares burned, with emissions exceeding 100 megatons of carbon.
Various ecosystems, including tropical rainforests and the Gran Chaco, were affected.
Data from NASA and international organizations documented the extent and emissions of the fires, providing insight into the environmental consequences.
