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"Short Fire Law": Concern in the Forestry Sector Over Costs for Small Landowners

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• René Muñoz, president of Acoforag, explained that regarding the proposed amendments to the General Urban Planning and Construction Law, he agreed that zoning plans need to be improved.

The"Short Fire Law"has sparked discussion, not only in the political sphere, where its legislation is being drafted, but also among one of the sectors most affected by the initiative's provisions: forestry companies.

Recall that the bill proposed by Biobío’s Green Party deputy, Félix González, aims to grant greater authority to municipalities to demand measures from the timber industry, such as larger firebreaks, and seeks to prohibit plantations of exotic species in urban areas based on modifications to the Regional Land Use Plan and/or Zoning or Sectional Plan.

Now, a question arises. While large forestry companies may have the resources to implement firebreaks without significant cost complications, how much would this initiative affect small forestry landowners if approved?
When asked about this on the day of the bill's vote in the Lower House's Housing Committee, Deputy González stated, "There is no doubt that we will have to step in to support small landowners."

Additionally, considering the bill introduced by the Executive Branch titled "Regulates the Prevention of Forest and Rural Fires, and Other Matters," which aligns with González’s proposal, the president of the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma), Juan José Ugarte, expressed concern about how small and medium-sized forest landowners would finance firebreaks.

Corma

Indeed, the responsibility that would fall on small forest landowners remains uncertain in weeks when amendments to both bills are expected to be presented.

In this regard, Ugarte noted, "This is truly an issue this Committee should deliberate to find a solution. Creating a firebreak, establishing a non-productive interface—obviously meant to protect people and nature—entails a recurring annual expense."

"A large forestry company, a medium-sized forestry company, incorporates this into their cost structure. (But) SMEs cannot do this. (...) There is technical advice from Conaf for these small landowners, but advice alone is not enough—resources are also needed," Ugarte said.

Association of Forestry Contractors

René Muñoz, president of the Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag), explained that regarding the proposed amendments to the General Urban Planning and Construction Law—focused on Deputy González’s initiative—he agreed that zoning plans must be refined. "Ultimately," he said, it is "what municipalities and regional governments (Gores) must do."

However, he warned that "the required size of firebreaks for small landowners makes planting unprofitable. These requirements, we believe, discourage small landowners from seeing forests as a viable investment."

National Forestry Society (SNF)

The vice president of the National Forestry Society (SNF), Mario Hermosilla, admitted that while firebreaks and preventive measures proposed in the bills are "necessary, (...) the most important law is Sernafor's."
This refers to the initiative seeking to create the National Forestry Service, which "has been under processing for eight years" and includes, within the same legal framework, provisions on forest fire prevention, Hermosilla said.

Regarding how much the new requirements would affect small landowners without a clarified budget so far, the SNF vice president pointed out, for example, that after creating a firebreak, "grass control must be maintained—otherwise, it becomes exposed. (...) And who is responsible for that?"

"Many sawmills are closing, many people lost 100%, 80% of their assets. These are lifelong investments, very long-term. (...) The costs we are facing in the forestry sector have made the forestry business unviable," said Mario Hermosilla.

Source:www.diarioconcepcion.cl