The secret bears of Bolivia’s lost dry forests

A 2017 report by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) found that while Colombia had started or planned at least 100 projects to restore its inter-Andean forests, Bolivia, a far poorer country, only had a handful.

CIFOR points out that restoring these forests is not just important for wildlife: it could help recover soil fertility, control erosion, provide wood, fruit and nuts to people, as well as regulate and clean water. Tree roots help water absorb into the soil and trickle through to streams slowly, instead of running off the surface and causing a flash flood followed by drought.