Saving the Amazon

This article first appeared in our COP29 special issue of My Green Pod Magazine. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox

When it comes to conservation, Bolivia is no stranger to radical ideas.

In 1987 it became the first nation to test a ‘debt-for-nature’ swap, whereby Conservation International bought $650,000 of Bolivia’s debt in exchange for a promise the government would establish protected areas in the Amazon.

40 years on the areas remain protected – but the rainforest is by no means safe. It’s cheaper to purchase forest than agricultural land in Bolivia, meaning the Amazon has a unique draw for those looking to make a profit – or even just a good living.

Intensive farming – of soy, beef and corn – is a familiar threat, but slash-and-burn land clearance practices aren’t restricted to multinationals.

Farmers within Bolivia also buy and clear forested land because it makes more financial sense. The fires can be impossible to control, leading to destruction on a huge scale and destroying the homes of animals and Indigenous peoples.

‘Slash-and-burn techniques, often used to expand agricultural and cattle farming frontiers, are the primary cause of forest fires in Bolivia’, says Javier Calvo, president of Amazon For Life. ‘There’s a persistent myth that deforested land is worth more, which drives this destructive practice.’

While Javier would like to see slash-and-burn techniques prohibited and alternatives for land use promoted, he acknowledges that conservation efforts will only succeed if different cultural perspectives in Bolivia are balanced.

‘Each group in Bolivia has different land-use practices’, Javier explains. ‘Some focus heavily on agriculture, which can lead to forest clearing, while others might prioritise livestock farming. For Indigenous communities, the rainforest is their home and livelihood. They have a deep, spiritual connection to the land. Interculturales and Mennonites, on the other hand, often view the land as a resource for agricultural and economic use.’

If not managed sustainably, these different approaches can contribute to habitat destruction. The solution for Javier is to create economic models that respect both cultural practices and the ecological importance of the forest.

Taking action

Javier comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and politicians. ‘Five of my great-grandparents were founding fathers of Bolivia’, he tells us. ‘From an early age, my parents instilled in us a deep love for our country and a strong sense of responsibility to use our talents to make a difference. They emphasised the importance of living a life with purpose and serving others.’

Javier’s lightbulb moment came when he realised that Bolivia had become the world’s third-largest deforester of primary tropical forests – and first per capita. ‘The urgency of this crisis pushed me to take action’, he shares. ‘I gathered a team of professionals from various fields, and we analysed the root causes of deforestation in Bolivia. We concluded that the only way to counter the expansion of cattle ranching and agriculture was to offer private landowners and Indigenous communities an alternative income source.’

After months of research, Javier launched Amazon For Life, a company focused on integrating agriculture, livestock and forests with native trees like the Dipteryx alata (the baru nut tree) at its core. Its motto – ‘A living forest is worth more than a dead one’ – reflects the organisation’s mission to change mindsets, help communities, build value chains and ultimately stop deforestation.

‘We aim to halt deforestation by demonstrating to Bolivia – and the world – that there is a more profitable and sustainable way forward’, Javier explains. ‘Our vision is to show that real change can happen when the private sector, communities and governments come together. Protecting the Amazon is not only a moral and ecological obligation but also the most economically rewarding path.’