Wildfires raging in Bolivia's forests and grasslands since May have destroyed 1.7 million hectares, officials said on Wednesday, amid a US$11 million effort by the government to contain them.
Bolivian authorities warned this week that 70% of the department of Santa Cruz — where more than a quarter of the country's population lives — is under “extreme risk” from forest fires. According to the government, nearly 500,000 hectares of forest have now been turned into ashes.
The output of oil and gas in the Argentine province of Mendoza hit its lowest mark in ten years, contrary to what goes on in the rest of the country, local authorities have announced. The lack of calls for bids during previous administrations has been singled out as the cause of the poor results.
Argentina's National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development, INIDEP, has started a scientific survey aimed at assessing the Southern king crab (Lithodes santolla) in its central Patagonian distribution area. This is the third consecutive year in which the survey is carried out and includes the San Jorge Gulf and platform waters, between 43° 30 'and 48° South latitude, in jurisdictions of the Nation, and Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces.
Wildlife and environmental organisations Monday denounced the deaths of 23 Andean condors in Argentine Patagonia due to the use of prohibited agrochemicals. Thirteen of the birds were found in Neuquén and the other ten in Santa Cruz.
Chinese companies present a pattern of violations of human and environmental rights in Latin America, according to a report revealed by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
Chile's Enap Sipetrol has acquired an offshore block, Octans Pegaso, on the Argentine continental shelf off the coast of Patagonia province of Santa Cruz. The block covers 886 square kilometers and is 20kms off Santa Cruz coast at its closest point to land. It was purchased from the consortium made up of Total Austral (35%), Wintershall (35%) and ENI (30%).
A Falkland Islander, resident in Argentina is running for mayor of the city of Puerto Santa Cruz, in Patagonia's Santa Cruz province, which is the Kirchner's couple political turf. James Lewis is backing Eduardo Costa from the opposition Radical party, the current mayor of the small town of 3.500 people, who next year is confident can become the province's next governor.
Maximo Kirchner, the eldest son of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez said his mother's medical condition was 'improving' from the cranium surgery to drain a blood clot to which she saw submitted at the beginning of the month, but did not advance any date as to when the head of state will return to her job.
Argentina’s Security Ministry issued a tough press release in response to the alleged police operative deployed by the Santa Cruz government in order to monitor the activities of President Cristina Fernández last weekend.