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Crisis in the Chilean Forestry Sector: A Cry for Alert Over Violence and Supply

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In the latest edition of Conversando con la Acoforag, René Muñoz exposes the critical situation of the forestry sector, affected by violence and supply shortages, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

During episode number 43 of Conversando con la Acoforag, René Muñoz, manager of the Asociación de Contratistas Forestales (Acoforag), along with journalist María José Llodrá, addressed the delicate situation facing the forestry sector in Chile.

Muñoz emphasized that the crisis not only affects companies directly linked to the industry but also impacts a wide range of related services, such as transportation, affecting approximately 600,000 workers directly and indirectly.

The sector, which was once the country's second-largest exporter, has fallen to fourth place, with exports ranging between 5,500 and 6,000 million dollars. Despite having significant potential, the sector has failed to capitalize on it due to multiple challenges.

One of the main problems facing the industry is the violence in the Araucanía region, which persists despite efforts to control it. Muñoz reported that although attacks have decreased from forty-eight last year to twenty-six or twenty-seven projected this year, the situation remains severe. The violence has not only deterred investment but has also evolved into organized crime that blends terrorism with drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and other crimes.

Additionally, Muñoz pointed out that current laws, such as the timber theft law and the land usurpation law, have not been as effective as expected in improving security standards. Despite legal reforms, timber theft continues, adapting to control measures, and it is estimated that between one hundred to one hundred and ten thousand hectares have been occupied by indigenous groups, reducing supply and industrial activity.

Another concerning aspect is intentional forest fires, which each season pose significant uncertainty for the sector. In Chile, between five thousand five hundred and six thousand five hundred fires are recorded each year, with seven hundred thousand hectares of plantations burned in the last decade.

The crisis in the Chilean forestry sector is a call to action to address these problems comprehensively and ensure the sustainability and security of an industry that is vital for the country's economy and employment.