In an area home to an isolated indigenous community near the Brazilian border, more than 280,000 hectares of Bolivian forests have been destroyed by wildfires, authorities said.
The Santa Cruz Fire Department in Bolivia said 15 fires have not yet been extinguished and continue to threaten, in particular, the Nembiguazu Nature Reserve and
Nembiguazu means "great refuge" and is home to the indigenous Ayoreo community, which is in voluntary isolation, as well as jaguars, anteaters, cougars and night monkeys.
During the previous two years, there were reports of fires in the area.
Yovenka Rosado, head of the Santa Cruz forest fire department, said: "Our firefighters work in coordination with the military from the military, the technical staff of the municipality, the National Park rangers from various protected areas."
Across Bolivia, more than 749,000 hectares (2,890 sq mi) were burned by the end of July - 62% more than in the same period in 2020, according to the Friends of Nature Foundation.
Fires are often ignited by farmers and pastoralists to increase yields, but due to very dry conditions and wind, they quickly lose control of the flame.
The region experiences strong winds, which, according to ecologists, are contributing to the intensification of recent fires.