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Forestry Contractors Demand Greater Incentives for Reforestation in Chile

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The Association of Forestry Contractors expressed concerns that properties may not be reforested due to a lack of necessary resources.

"Reforestation of areas affected by wildfires in forests across different regions of the country will be complicated because many small producers lack the resources to replant and because there are currently no state incentives for reforestation."

This was stated by the manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz Klock, who in an interview with La Tribuna newspaper noted, "What happened is an ecological catastrophe—a loss of heritage on a massive scale. Twenty-five Chileans have died. So, we must sit down and discuss what comes next."

"The first thing we must do is try to recover those burned lands where forests once stood and reforest them again. But how do we reforest 200 thousand hectares?" questioned the industry leader.

The coordinator of Acoforag A.G. pointed out that "the season is upon us. It's not possible to reforest 200 thousand hectares this year. Maybe partially. But today, there are no subsidies or incentives."

LACK OF RESOURCES

"Today, there are no available plants for the planting area. The main problem is that the forest will remain there, and it won't be possible to plant because there will be no available land," anticipated the industry leader. Muñoz Klock explained, "Preparing 200 thousand hectares by June, July, or August is an impossible task. Land is usually prepared from one year to the next." "Additionally, some plantations are mechanized—equipment is used for planting—so, more than labor, I’d worry about how to work those burned properties, which will be exposed to rain," stated the spokesperson for the forestry sector operating in our region and others across the country.

The manager of the forestry production group shared that "erosion in many soils and properties in the sector could increase because of this." "Fortunately, forestry contractors' machinery has not been severely affected. The survey indicates roughly 200 thousand hectares of pine and eucalyptus have been devastated. 100 thousand of those belong to companies, and the other 100 thousand are small landowners," detailed the representative of ACOFORAG A.G. René Muñoz Klock added, "We also fear that many of these properties won’t be reforested because the owner may not want to or lacks the resources to do so."

STATE SUPPORT

"Forestry companies won’t have issues recovering their 100 thousand hectares, but small landowners will face problems because there are no incentives for reforestation," criticized the representative of the Association of Forestry Contractors. The leader of the association observed, "Since 2012, there has been no government or state support for reforestation. For a long time, we’ve discussed with the government how serious it is to lack incentives for promoting exotic or native forest plantations." "85% of Chilean soil is forested, which is why we need a strong industry and a National Forestry Service—which doesn’t exist today," urged the manager of Acoforag.

The manager of the association in question said, "Perhaps this is an opportunity, even though in 2017 we had a fire under similar circumstances and learned nothing." Regarding President Gabriel Boric’s statements, which in one instance blamed forestry activity for the disasters, Muñoz Klock argued, "The President can say what he wants, but blaming the forestry sector is irresponsible and a poor statement. Forests don’t burn on their own. We’ve all provided evidence that there is intent behind it." "The problem isn’t the forests or the companies. It’s like blaming merchants for setting up where they are when their stores are destroyed," compared the head of the Association of Forestry Contractors.

Source:www.latribuna.cl