The Silent Drought – Life without water in the forests of Bolivia
All life needs water. It is essential for our ecosystems to stay in balance. However, the quest for freshwater is a daily struggle within the Chiquitano Dry Forest of Bolivia. In these regions water scarcity is leading to thirst to all its inhabitants, including the local communities, Indigenous Peoples, cattle, animals, forests, and fauna. The Bolivian journalist Roberto Navia provides us with an intriguing documentary of the daily suffering of all these inhabitants living within these dry forests.
This short documentary grants an insight into the consequences of destructive human activity in these areas, specifically large-scale agriculture, extensive cattle ranching, and illegal logging and mining. All these activities contribute to the worsening problem of extreme drought in the region.
The documentary: The Silent Drought
When an entire ecosystem, people included, is thirsty, we speak of a humanitarian crisis. And whilst the inhabitants of the forest fight to cease their thirst, the ongoing destruction of the forest continues. The forest could be the most important ally in limiting droughts, as it plays a vital role in storing water and generating rain, recharging lagoons, rivers, and groundwater levels. However due to the large-scale destruction of the forests this cycle is currently under extreme pressure.
When water is this scarce - as is happening in Bolivia right now - human rights are being violated and biodiverse ecosystems are endangered. It is therefore of foremost importance to act now. Forests must be restored and conserved on a large scale. National agreements must guarantee human rights are being met and the natural environment is preserved. Water should never be a luxury; it is a necessity both for humans and nature and must be treated as such.
Looking to the near future, the UN Water Conference 2023 is an opportunity to make these agreements and restore this balance on a global scale. The VCA alliance strives to give local communities a stage at this conference for them to amplify their voice and protect their environment.
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