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The Timely Responses of the State

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The severe wildfires in the southern region of the country, which have resulted in the loss of 240,000 hectares of planted forests, 200,000 hectares of native forests, scrublands, and agricultural crops, the death of 26 compatriots, and material damages to many rural residents, are a powerful reminder that shakes us from time to time and calls us to make the decisions the forestry sector needs.

It is imperative that the "State" be prepared to react swiftly, efficiently, and promptly, with plans that ensure sufficient personnel and material resources to combat grassland, scrubland, and forest fires caused primarily by human activity and exacerbated by extreme climate events—events that will undoubtedly recur and intensify in the future.

The high intentionality observed in this emergency, estimated by authorities at 40% to 60%, is a new factor that must be considered. "FORESTS DO NOT BURN ON THEIR OWN." We must eradicate crime and terrorism from our forests.

It is urgent to improve and strengthen forest security and governance so that both can interact more effectively with all stakeholders in the territories, enabling safer and more responsible coexistence between communities and forests.

The analysis by the Association of Forestry Contractors A.G. identifies three key aspects that the State should prioritize to advance the growth and consolidation of a forestry sector that continues to contribute to the country:

1.- Urgent actions to protect and restore forests burned during this season

State subsidies and incentives for small and medium landowners to restore the forestry potential of destroyed properties, using exotic and/or native species. These incentives should include activities such as afforestation, reforestation, thinning, and/or managing natural regeneration.

Promote annual programs to reduce fuel loads and forestry residues from plantation management by various landowners in interface zones, along power lines, rural and public roads, and near inhabited areas. Citizen responsibility is crucial in controlling these events.

Encourage and strengthen the operation of the existing 360 community prevention networks in the territories. Their presence should be expanded to include the Valparaíso and Metropolitan regions, extending these community prevention organizations from Valparaíso to Los Lagos.

Improve and persist in education and prevention campaigns. Proactive efforts are needed to educate about wildfires and their effects year-round.

2.- Regulation and/or improvement of forestry governance

Urgently enact the law creating the National Forestry Service to replace the current CONAF (a private-law corporation). This would allow the state to define strong public policies reinforcing the forestry vocation of 35% of the country's land.

Promote a state-subsidized afforestation project aimed at providing vegetative cover to two and a half million hectares (2,500,000 ha) of land currently at risk of severe erosion.

Urgently amend Law 20.283 on native forest recovery and forestry promotion to truly incentivize landowners and enable sustainable (social, environmental, and economic) management of potentially 4.0 million hectares.

Promote new territorial planning with the participation of: Municipalities, Regional Governments, MINVU, MOP, forestry companies, local communities, electric companies, and sector-related associations, defining:

• Minimum and maximum distances between forests, villages, cities, and towns.
• Width of power line corridors.
• Distance of plantations from the edges of public and rural roads.

3.- Territorial security

Territorial security is undoubtedly the foundation of any productive activity. For 25 years, the forestry sector has faced repeated attacks, falling victim to and resisting coordinated actions by armed groups that have evolved from territorial claims to outright criminal and terrorist activities, due to the evident lack of rule of law in the so-called Southern Macrozone.

We believe the State has been absent, responding passively and belatedly, but there is still time to remedy its inaction. It must provide political and increased financial support to Carabineros de Chile, PDI, the Armed Forces, and the Prosecutor's Office to improve security conditions for residents of the Southern Macrozone in general and forestry workers in particular.