Tipuani, Bolivia, faces severe flooding due to climate change and destructive mining practices. Approximately 500 homes are affected, and the community is dealing with adverse living conditions. Experts and residents blame the gold rush and its environmental consequences for the ongoing crisis, alongside increasing vulnerabilities connected to climate change.
In the village of Tipuani, Bolivia, Rafael Quispe navigates a makeshift raft through floodwaters that have engulfed his community. Approximately 500 homes are partially submerged due to excessive rainfall attributed to climate change and gold mining activities that have eroded riverbanks. Experts believe this damage directly correlates to increased flooding trends in the region, particularly with the onset of the rainy season from November to April.
Gold mining has significantly impacted the landscape, which has witnessed a surge in extraction activities as gold prices have increased over the past decade. The use of machinery by mining cooperatives has been linked to the alteration of river courses, leading to enhanced flooding and erosion. Alfredo Zaconeta, an expert at the Center for Labor and Agricultural Development Studies, emphasized that this mining activity is detrimental to the environment.
Former miner Sinforiano Checa, now homeless due to the flooding, criticized the mining operations, labeling them as sinful for their environmental impact. Similarly, Rolando Vargas, president of the Chima Cooperative, acknowledged the responsibility of the mining sector in the plight of the community and indicated that waste dumping into the river had been a longstanding issue.
In another nearby community, children are exposed to contaminated floodwaters while attending online classes due to school closures. The villagers express determination to continue working despite the adverse conditions, as their livelihoods are largely dependent on mining. Meanwhile, the effects of climate change exacerbate water vulnerabilities, making Bolivia one of the countries most adversely affected. Last January brought record rainfall, remarking a stark deviation from typical weather patterns due to the La Nina phenomenon, according to Lucia Walper of Bolivia’s National Meteorology and Hydrology Service.
The flooding crisis in Tipuani is a profound example of the intersection between environmental degradation due to gold mining and the impacts of climate change. With most villagers dependent on mining, the destruction of infrastructure and homes is profound. Immediate action is necessary to address both the environmental and humanitarian aspects of this crisis, as climate change continues to intensify the frequency of such disasters in Bolivia.
Original Source: www.france24.com
