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Four Individuals Arrested for Timber Theft in Lago Peñuelas National Reserve

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The suspects were caught in the act while extracting tree species from the protected area.

In a joint operation between the Forest and Ecological Section (OS5) of Carabineros and park rangers from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), four individuals were arrested for illegally cutting down trees in the Lago Peñuelas National Reserve.

The incident, which took place at the Las Tablas estate near Route 68, resulted in the apprehension of the suspects and the seizure of trucks used to transport the stolen timber.

The swift action by authorities highlights the Ministry of Agriculture's commitment to protecting the country's natural heritage. Undersecretary of Agriculture, Ignacia Fernández, emphasized the importance of interagency collaboration to combat such environmental crimes and assured that efforts will continue to preserve protected areas and penalize those who harm them.

Marcelo Pérez, regional head of Conaf's Protected Areas Department, announced that a detailed drone analysis will be conducted to assess the damage and calculate the value of the illegally extracted timber. Conaf, for its part, is preparing legal actions against those responsible for the offense.

This incident underscores the need for constant surveillance in national reserves and the importance of environmental conservation on the public agenda. Authorities stress that acts threatening natural resources will not be tolerated and that all necessary measures will be applied to protect Chile's forest heritage.

Photo: Conaf's X account