Indigenous women fill Bolivia's frontlines fighting wildfires

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"I became a firefighter because of the helplessness of seeing how fires destroyed communities every year," said Rodas.

A community leader of the Chiquitanas Indigenous People, Rodas said she worries the slash-and-burn method, used to clear trees for agriculture and grazing, will spiral out of control as it has before.

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As many Indigenous communities in Bolivia have female chiefs, women are able to assume leadership role in fire management, and several crews consist entirely of women, according to Carlos Pinto, head of FAN.

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In Robore, Indigenous women have attended basic 10-day training in community fire management and early warning systems, led by the Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN), a Bolivian environmental group.

As many Indigenous communities in Bolivia have female chiefs, women are able to assume leadership role in fire management, and several crews consist entirely of women, according to Carlos Pinto, head of FAN.

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