AGP Executive Report

Fuel & energy pressure in Bolivia: Bolivia is facing a fuel shortage that’s turning gas stations into long queues and leaving some households short on propane, with people now debating whether new drilling could ease the crisis—while reports also point to adulterated gasoline damaging vehicles. Industrial waste-to-fuel push: Soboce is converting non-recyclable waste into alternative fuel at its Viacha cement plant, aiming to cut the volume of waste needing final disposal and gradually replace conventional fuels, with the government calling for better waste collection and separation. Cyber risk with Bolivia in the target list: Researchers say a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group (UAT-10147) is targeting Windows and Linux web servers globally, with many victims reported in Brazil and also listed among targets including Bolivia. La Paz power reliability concerns: La Paz residents reported another round of blackouts, with more than 33,000 users affected after a technical failure at the city’s main substation, the second major outage in less than a week. Governance shake-up tied to the economy: Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz removed Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza after a legislative censure and named Environment Minister Óscar Mario Justiniano as interim economy minister. Climate-linked health threat in the region: A new model suggests drought may be pushing yellow fever risk higher by driving infected monkeys and forest mosquitoes closer to cities in Brazil.

Forest Cover Rankings: A new global tally puts Russia first for forest area (833 million hectares), with Brazil second (486m), Canada third (369m), and the U.S. fourth (309m); Bolivia appears in the top-15 list, underscoring how much biodiversity and carbon storage hinge on a handful of countries. Bolivia Energy Crisis: Fuel shortages are driving long queues and uncertainty in Bolivia’s cities, with reports of adulterated gasoline and renewed debate over whether new drilling—especially around the Tariquía Flora and Fauna Reserve—could worsen or ease environmental risks. Climate Whiplash in the Andes: Western Bolivia’s unusual heavy snowfall has hit over 26,000 families across 320+ Andean communities, blocking highways, closing airports, and threatening llamas and alpacas during a normally dry season. La Paz Power Disruptions: Another round of blackouts struck La Paz, leaving 33,000+ users without electricity after a technical failure at the main substation. Salar de Uyuni Lithium Tension: Coverage highlights how lithium expansion hopes collide with Indigenous and environmental concerns around groundwater and livelihoods in the Uyuni salt flat region.

Climate Whiplash in Bolivia: Heavy, unusual snowfall and freezing temperatures hit western Bolivia, affecting 26,000+ families across 323 Andean communities, blocking highways, closing airports, and threatening llamas and alpacas as grazing areas froze. La Paz Power Strain: La Paz saw another wave of blackouts, with 33,000+ users losing electricity after a technical failure at the main substation, the second major outage in less than a week. Fuel Shortages & Extractivism: Bolivia’s fuel crisis is driving long queues and everyday uncertainty, while the government pushes new drilling and extractive moves tied to reserves and production. Salar de Uyuni Lithium Debate: A new look at Bolivia’s lithium reality highlights the gap between major deposits and tiny production, with Indigenous and environmental concerns focused on groundwater, aquifers, and impacts on livelihoods and tourism. Governance & Economy: President Rodrigo Paz dismissed Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza after legislative censure, appointing interim replacement Oscar Mario Justiniano as Bolivia navigates mounting economic pressure. Wildlife Crime in Beni: A jaguar death linked to biocide has led to preventive detention, underscoring ongoing threats to Bolivia’s wildlife.

Altiplano Snow Emergency: Western Bolivia was hit by an unusual polar cold front and heavy snowfall, affecting 26,220 families across 323 Andean communities, blocking highways, closing airports, and threatening livestock and grazing areas—especially in Potosí, Oruro, and Cochabamba. La Paz Power Strain: La Paz saw another round of widespread blackouts, with more than 33,000 users losing power after a technical failure at the city’s main electrical substation. Fuel Shortages & Extraction Pressure: Bolivia’s fuel crunch is driving long queues and raising fears about household impacts, while the government pushes drilling and extractive operations tied to reserves and production. Salar de Uyuni Lithium Debate: A new look at Uyuni highlights the tension between expanding lithium output and Indigenous/environmental concerns over groundwater and tourism livelihoods. La Paz Port Rules for Storm Readiness: Port authorities urged boat owners in La Paz Bay to register vessels with current contact details after six boats were left stranded, underscoring risks during bad weather. Governance Shock With Environmental Link: President Rodrigo Paz dismissed the economy minister after legislative censure, appointing the environment minister as interim economy chief—an immediate signal of how crisis management is reshuffling portfolios.

Fuel Shortages in Bolivia: Long lines at gas stations and even propane shortages are hitting daily life, with the crisis tied to declining reserves and production—and the government pushing new drilling plans that also raise concerns about impacts on the Tariquía Flora and Fauna Reserve. Power Grid Strain in La Paz: Another wave of blackouts left 33,000+ users without electricity after a technical failure at the city’s main substation, compounding earlier outages. Climate Whiplash in the Andes: Unusual heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures stranded communities, blocked highways, closed airports, and threatened livestock—affecting 26,000+ families across hundreds of Andean communities. Lithium Debate at Salar de Uyuni: A new push to expand lithium production faces opposition from environmental advocates and Indigenous groups worried about groundwater and aquifer damage. Rights-of-Nature Angle: A Colorado opinion piece argues that recognizing ecosystems as legal “rights of nature” could help tackle climate change by reshaping how extraction and development are governed. Biodiversity Crime in Beni: A jaguar death tied to alleged biocide has led to preventive detention, spotlighting wildlife protection enforcement.

Climate & Disaster Response: Western Bolivia is reeling from an unusual polar cold front and heavy snowfall, affecting 26,220 families across 323 Andean communities, with Potosí hit hardest; roads, airports, and freight routes were disrupted, livestock grazing areas were buried, and officials report tens of thousands of camelids affected and hundreds dead, while tourism and the Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve also took a hit. Energy Reliability: La Paz residents faced another round of widespread blackouts after a technical failure at the city’s main electrical substation, leaving 33,000+ users without power and marking the second major outage in less than a week. Environment Governance & Rights: A Colorado opinion piece highlights how “Rights of Nature” legal approaches—treating rivers and ecosystems as legal persons—could reshape climate action by changing the rules that enable extraction and deforestation. Mining & Livelihoods: Coverage on Bolivia’s lithium debate underscores fears that expanding Salar de Uyuni extraction could threaten groundwater, aquifers, and local livelihoods tied to llamas, alpacas, and quinoa, even as the government seeks economic revival. Indigenous Voices & Land: Reports from development-pressured Indigenous communities emphasize how land loss from plantations and dams (and the lack of meaningful consultation) is pushing youth-led media efforts to defend forests, sacred sites, and cultural survival. Health & Environment Link: Research on Indigenous Tsimane and Moseten in Bolivia finds menopause-related blood pressure shifts, adding to growing evidence that health impacts can vary across lifestyles and disease burdens. Policy & Economy (Context): Bolivia’s president removed the economy minister after legislative censure, appointing the environment minister as interim—an important backdrop for how environmental priorities may intersect with economic crisis decisions.

Altiplano Climate Shock: Western Bolivia’s heavy snowfall has hit 26,220 families across 323 Andean communities, with Potosí hardest hit—roads blocked, airports closed, freight disrupted, and grazing areas buried, threatening llamas and alpacas and forcing local emergencies. Biodiversity & Land Rights: Reporting from Bolivia’s mining frontier highlights how rare-earth and other mineral projects can drive deforestation, landslide risk, sediment-clogged rivers, and community tension—often without Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Indigenous Voices Under Pressure: A separate account from Cambodia’s Ratanakiri mirrors the same pattern: development projects are eroding forests, livelihoods, and sacred lands, while youth-led media efforts try to keep Indigenous languages and stories visible. Health & Environment Link: New research on Tsimane women in Bolivia suggests menopause may shift blood pressure in ways that appear universal, even in communities with very low cardiovascular disease rates. Lithium Debate in Uyuni: A look at Salar de Uyuni underscores the stakes: Bolivia holds major lithium deposits but produces little, and expansion faces environmental and Indigenous groundwater concerns. Policy & Governance: Bolivia’s economy minister was removed after congressional censure, with the environment minister named interim—an update that could affect how environmental priorities and economic reforms move forward.

Climate Shock in the Andes: Western Bolivia is reeling after an unusual freeze and heavy snowfall hit at least five regions, affecting 26,220 families in 323 communities and triggering emergencies in Potosí, Oruro and Cochabamba; roads vanished under snow, airports closed, freight was disrupted, and livestock losses mounted as grazing areas froze. Biodiversity & Protected Areas Under Pressure: The storm also disrupted tourism and operations around the Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, where high-altitude wildlife and livelihoods are already vulnerable. Lithium Debate at Salar de Uyuni: A new look at Bolivia’s lithium push highlights the tension between economic hopes for expanding production and concerns from environmental advocates and Indigenous communities about groundwater contamination and impacts on aquifers and tourism. Child Protection Funding for Bolivia: UNICEF reports EU funding of US$19.9M for disaster preparedness, education and child protection across Latin America and the Caribbean, including support for refugee and migrant children and families in transit in Bolivia. Wildlife Crime in Bolivia: A man in Beni was placed in preventive detention over the death and mutilation of a jaguar, underscoring ongoing pressure on Bolivia’s wildlife.

Climate Emergency in Bolivia’s Highlands: Heavy snowfall in western Bolivia has affected 26,220 families across 323 communities, with Potosí hit hardest. Roads and highways were blocked, airports closed, and freight stranded as up to 20 inches of snow fell during the dry season—an extreme anomaly for the Altiplano. The storm also threatened livestock: 78,755 camelids were affected and 750 already dead, while grazing areas froze and veterinary and fodder needs surged. Wildlife Crime in Bolivia: A man in Beni was placed in preventive detention over the death and mutilation of a jaguar, highlighting ongoing pressure on Bolivia’s wildlife and enforcement challenges. Indigenous Health Research: Researchers investigated why two Indigenous groups in Bolivia had some of the lowest COVID death rates worldwide, pointing to differences in health risk factors and disease patterns. Digital Infrastructure in Bolivia: Rakuten Symphony signed an MOU with VIVA Bolivia to modernize the mobile network, including cloud-native operations and AI-enabled services—starting with an initial roadmap for Bolivia.

Snow & Emergency in Potosí: Heavy snowfall in western Bolivia has hit 26,220 families across 323 communities, with Uyuni and the Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve among the hardest affected; authorities report major livestock losses and disrupted roads and tourism, prompting a regional state of emergency. Wildlife Crime in Beni: A jaguar entered a home in Guayaramerín, Beni, but was shot and then mutilated; a suspect was detained and prosecutors are pursuing charges tied to biocide and illegal possession, highlighting ongoing pressure on threatened wildlife. La Paz Reforestation Push: La Paz kicked off a statewide reforestation drive, aiming to restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen long-term environmental resilience. Indigenous Media Against Mining: In Minahasa, community radio is amplifying local testimony on mining-linked river pollution, mercury contamination, and forest loss—framing environmental harm as a fight for dignity and survival. Used Clothing Smuggling Link to Pollution: A Peru-focused crackdown report traces an illicit used-clothing chain into Peru via Chile and Bolivia, tying document fraud and corruption to worsening textile waste pollution.

Wildlife crime in Bolivia: A jaguar entered a home in Guayaramerín, Beni, and was shot, then mutilated; authorities arrested a suspect and ordered 60 days of preventive detention, charging biocide and illegal weapons possession, after videos went viral. Bolivia conservation action: La Paz kicked off a statewide reforestation push, starting plantings with local officials and aiming to expand native forest recovery. Regional climate risk: Heavy habagat rains triggered major flooding in Iloilo City, with dozens of barangays affected and thousands displaced, underscoring how fast extreme rainfall can overwhelm communities. Pollution and enforcement in the Andes: Peru’s used-clothing smuggling crackdown highlights an “international criminal chain” tied to document fraud, corruption, and textile waste pollution, with routes reported through Chile and also via borders with Bolivia. Rights of Nature debate: Opinion pieces argue that recognizing ecosystems as legal persons could help climate action by reshaping laws that enable extraction and deforestation. Mining-linked environmental harm: A report on illegal gold mining in Peru describes forest destruction and mercury contamination affecting water, wildlife, and Indigenous communities near the Bolivia border.

Wildlife crime in Bolivia: In Beni, a jaguar was shot, then decapitated and skinned after entering a home in Guayaramerín; a suspect was detained on charges including biocide and illegal weapons possession, with more people reportedly involved. Disaster risk and flooding: Iloilo City in the Philippines saw habagat-driven flooding spread across 65 barangays, displacing thousands and prompting school suspensions and evacuation-center updates—an example of how extreme rain can quickly overwhelm communities. Vector-borne disease watch: Hawaiʻi health officials reported another travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu and urged residents to remove standing water, especially with ongoing wet weather. Conservation tourism push (Mexico): La Paz is training and certifying bird-watching guides through its Ecoparque program, aiming to professionalize aviturismo around desert-wetland habitat. Climate/land use context: A statewide reforestation effort in Baja California Sur kicked off from La Paz, planting native species to restore local ecosystems.

Wildlife crime in Bolivia: A man was detained for the death of a jaguar in Beni after neighbors reportedly shot and mutilated the animal; prosecutors say the case involves “biocide” and illegal weapons, with investigators recovering parts of the skin and paws. Flood impacts across the region: In Iloilo City, heavy habagat rains pushed flooding into 65 barangays, displacing thousands and forcing schools to shift to alternative delivery modes as waters slowly subside. Bolivia conservation and tourism (local): La Paz Ecoparque is rolling out a bird-watching guide program to professionalize tours and boost aviturismo around the park’s desert-wetland mix. Disaster risk and weather alerts: Luzon remains under rainfall warnings as monsoon-driven downpours threaten flash floods and landslides in multiple provinces and Metro Manila areas.

Bolivia Conservation & Climate: La Paz is kicking off a statewide reforestation push, starting from the city as officials launch plantings tied to Mexico’s National Reforestation Day 2026, aiming for 125,559 native plants across 831 hectares in La Paz and Comondú. Biodiversity & Ecotourism: La Paz Ecoparque is also expanding bird-watching tourism by training and certifying specialized guides, turning informal tours into a more professional service for desert-wetland habitats. Disaster Risk & Flood Impacts: Heavy rains from the southwest monsoon have triggered flooding in the Philippines, with Iloilo City reporting at least 789 families (2,529 people) affected and waters beginning to subside, while Metro Manila faces multiple rainfall alerts and widespread road flooding. Water & Land Safety: A separate rescue story highlights how extreme conditions can trap people in flooded caves—an underwater-cave fisherman in Mexico was found alive after 15 days, underscoring the stakes of rapid-response search and rescue.

Flood Response in Bolivia’s Region: Heavy rains and monsoon flooding are disrupting daily life across the Andes and beyond, with authorities shifting to alternative school delivery modes and warning of flash-flood and landslide risks. Birding Tourism Push in La Paz: La Paz Ecoparque is launching a bird-watching guide program to professionalize tours and boost aviturismo, leveraging the park’s desert-wetland mix for resident and migratory species. Illegal Gold Mining Crackdown: Peru’s navy is targeting illegal gold mining in the Amazon border zone, where forest clearing and mercury contamination threaten wildlife and Indigenous communities—an environmental pressure that also spills toward Bolivia’s shared ecosystems. Lithium Supply Chain Stress: New research flags disruption risks for battery minerals across Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, including earthquake impacts, export restrictions, labor disputes, and port problems—raising the stakes for responsible sourcing in the lithium triangle. Bolivia Mining Update: Orvana Minerals reports ramp-up progress at its Don Mario oxides stockpile project in Bolivia, aiming for stable commercial production in September 2026.

Birding in La Paz: La Paz Ecoparque is launching a certified bird-watching guide program, partnering with local tourism and conservation groups to turn informal tours into a professional service and boost aviturismo in the desert-wetland transition zone. Coastal development pressure in La Paz: A proposed Marina Palmira project would replace a port-and-boat-storage area with 107 apartments and bungalows, backed by an environmental impact statement and a brackish-water extraction plan using reverse osmosis—raising questions about water and brine impacts. Lithium supply-chain risk for Bolivia: New research warns that shocks across the Lithium Triangle (including Bolivia) could disrupt battery and EV supply chains through operating restrictions, delayed payments, and infrastructure problems. Rural energy access: A regional workshop highlighted how solar and micro-hydro with battery storage can support rural livelihoods in Bolivia and neighbors—if paired with local skills, value chains, and enabling policies. Wildlife rescue amid storms: Two sea turtles were rescued and released in Zambales after strong monsoon waves, including one hawksbill with injuries treated by conservation staff. Mining rights and forests: In Congo, Indigenous communities are gaining land-rights knowledge and media tools to push back against mining impacts—an example of community-led environmental protection.