Bolivia will choose a new president but environmental activists see little hope of progress

BOGOTA, Colombia — Bolivia’s upcoming presidential election will mark a shift from nearly two decades of socialist rule, but many Indigenous and environmental leaders doubt it will bring progress in stopping deforestation, wildfires or pollution in the Amazon.

The Oct. 19 runoff pits centrist Sen. Rodrigo Paz against right-wing former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga — two contenders promising change but rooted in an economic model critics say has long fueled environmental damage in one of South America’s most biodiverse nations.

The Amazon spans nine countries and plays a crucial role in absorbing carbon and regulating climate patterns worldwide. Approximately 8% of the Amazon is in Bolivia. Scientists warn that deforestation is pushing parts of the forest toward a tipping point where it