Laws such as the Agrarian Reform Law of 1953, which listed resource conservation as a fundamental objective, has not been adequately enforced. The Bolivian government did not assess the soil erosion until the late 1980s. Many peasants working the land are ignorant of the environmental impact that gold mining has. They are not aware of which techniques are best for the environment and can prevent soil erosion and deforestation. The government, however, is unable to financially support soil conservation programs and relies on the assistance of NGOs.
Soil erosion harms farm and grazing lands and increases flooding and desertification.
Also, U.S. environmental groups are pushing for even stronger legislation against mining in the United States. These U.S. actions are driving many U.S. mining companies to Bolivia, where their mining exploration is much more welcomed. The Bolivian government has recently liberalized its laws concerning foreign investment. Its private mining sector continues to grow because of new mining codes that streamline regulations. However, the miners' unions continue to fight joint venture agreements, stating that two joint ventures were formed before the decree permitting such ventures was legislated into law.