Sunrise over the river at Villa Tunari
We camped for the night at Villa Tunari which borders on the Parque National Isboro Secure and has a conservation reserve where you can walk and sample the jungle at the foot of the Andes.
The river at Villa Tunari
We took a walk in the morning through the conservation reserve up to the summit of a hill where there is an overview of the river and surrounding area.
Panorama of Villa Tunari from the reserve
Vertical panorama of a tall tree in the reserve
Sounds of the jungle in the conservation reserve (mp3).
The night before, the town was full of truck-trailier units full of tropical hardwood logs. Teresa said they were all waiting for the night so they could run the forestry checkpoint further up the road in the cover of darkness.
Panorama of the logging queue (click to the left of the image to enlarge)
Scenes from the camp site the night before
A firefly glowing on my hand and then making to fly off
The extreme variety of moths that gathered around the illuminated toilet block at night
Scenes from the camp site in the morning
Panorama of the central village square
More logging trucks in the morning
This one seems to have the red sap characteristic of hallucinogenic Virola species
Heading on we cross several river flood planes.
We stop briefly in Yapacani, a town notorious for its association with the coca which is produced in the forested areas to the north in Chapare.
Bags of coca leaf and a woman street seller
This chequered history runs from the 1980s when Yapacani was sprayed with 24D through to 2012 when there were murders committed over political conflicts between the left-leaning government of Evo Morales and large land owners from Santa Cruz, with the involvement of coca traffickers.
Fatal clashes in conflict over Mayor of Yapacani Jan 2012
Yapacani, El Chore, Amboro Park, coca and three dead people Jan 2012
Bolivia Says Coca Yes, Cocaine No 2007
Rise in food prices has Bolivian coca farmers planting rice 2008
Panorama of further convoys of logging trucks
A logging stockpile beside the road
Panorama of the logging stockpile
Scorched earth
Panorama of a clear felled plot beside the road
The guys clearing the ashes threatening us with machetes.
Although this is a small scale plot it illustrates the mentality.
Another burned out plot
All along the road is a controversial gas pipeline which has been the subject of political divisions.
Two large-scale agribusiness plots
Burning and clearing for pasture
Adam and Teresa
Panoramas of a blue cemetery
Panoramas of a second roadside cemetery
Central Montero
Panorama of central Montero
The setting sun hung heavy red with smoke from the bush fires to the north
Further scenes from Montero in the late afternoon
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