Bolivia's fertile lands are at the centre of a long-running battle between small-scale farmers, indigenous communities and corporate interests seeking to exploit them for profit. President Rodrigo Paz's administration has been accused of prioritising industrial expansion over environmental protection and traditional land rights, fuelling widespread protests that have gripped the country.
One striking example of resistance came from Vivian Palomequi, a leader of a peasant farmers' union who trekked 560 miles (900km) from her home in the Bolivian Amazon to La Paz, the capital. Her gruelling journey was a direct protest against a land law passed in April 2026, which would have allowed small family-owned plots to be reclassified as medium-sized holdings, making them vulnerable to foreclosures and corporate acquisitions.
President Paz's administration has come under fire for its handling of the economy, with critics accusing it of intensifying extractive policies that have been a hallmark of previous governments. The appointment of former industry leaders to key ministries has sparked concerns about the government's commitment to environmental protection and rural development.
Scrutiny over the administration's staffing decisions has centred on the appointment of influential figures from the agroindustry sector, including the ex-president of Anapo, a major soya bean and wheat producers association, who now heads the development planning and environment ministry. Similarly, the former president of CAO, another prominent agribusiness lobby, is now minister of productive, rural and water development.
The contentious land law was eventually repealed in May 2026, but environmental experts warn that the brief period it was in effect may have caused irreversible damage. The ongoing protests underscore the deep divisions within Bolivia regarding its economic future and the protection of its natural resources and Indigenous territories.