Fire Prevention and Climate Resilience: the Journey of Damien Schneider in Bolivia

In February 2025, La Presse reported that, according to the Bolivian Institute of Forest Research (IBIF), over 10.7 million hectares had burned. This dramatic intensification of extreme climate events highlights the urgent need to act. 

Living in Bolivia since 2005, Damien has been involved with CECI in forest fire prevention and climate change adaptation. He has collaborated with organizations such as the organization Apoyo Para el Campesino-indigena del Oriente Boliviano (APCOB), the National Agency for Protected Areas (SERNAP), and the Charcas Institute, in particularly sensitive areas like Torotoro and Sajama. For him, international volunteering is not just about sharing outside expertise. It is primarily about building solutions that are adapted to local realities. 

"The idea is to find a symbiosis between the communities’ needs and the technical knowledge of experts. Only then are the results sustainable," he explains. 

Disrupted ecosystems 

Over two decades, Damien has observed a temperature increase of at least six degrees Celsius in some regions—a drastic transformation that intensifies natural disasters, alters ecosystems, and affects groundwater reserves. 

"It’s much more pronounced today than before," he notes. 

The torrential rains that now hit certain areas cause severe flooding, directly affecting families, forests, and underground water supplies, increasing the vulnerability already felt by communities. Yet the most visible consequence remains the rise in fires. In the Bolivian Amazon, the traditional agricultural practice of slash-and-burn—cutting and burning vegetation to temporarily fertilize the soil—is becoming increasingly difficult to control. With climate change, it often leads to uncontrollable fires, releasing large amounts of CO₂ and threatening water resources. 

"Some communities no longer have access to water. The local authorities sometimes need to deliver water tanks, creating water stress that also slows down food production," Damien emphasizes. 

Vulnerable but resilient communities

The climate crisis is exacerbating precariousness: harvests are declining, food insecurity is on the rise, and homes built on the edge of forests—often with vulnerable materials such as leaf roofs—are particularly exposed to fires.

In this context, women are becoming increasingly involved, including in roles that were previously inaccessible to them, such as guides, first responders, and community leaders. Their mobilization reveals a powerful potential for leadership, even if gender stereotypes continue to hinder their participation.

“They are being given positions they weren't used to holding, and the results in terms of coordination are much better,” observes Damien.

According to him, this effectiveness is due in particular to the central role women play in family networks, which facilitates the flow of information and collective mobilization during crises. Their involvement strengthens the resilience of communities and highlights the importance of removing cultural barriers.

“We are making a great effort to achieve true equity and break down these barriers,” he insists.

Volunteering rooted in the local community

For Damien, international volunteering can only have a lasting impact if it is rooted in local realities.

“Experts must adapt in order to develop local solutions. This is the only way to ensure that, even after the volunteer has left, the results will endure.” he concludes.