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National Forest Service: The New Institution That Will Regulate Forest Sustainability and Succeed Conaf

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The Senate began the detailed debate on the initiative, which includes reports from the joint Agriculture and Environment, Climate Change, and National Assets committees, as well as a report from the Finance Committee. Additionally, the Labor and Social Security Committee reviewed the labor regulations included in the bill.

The new National Forest Service (Sernafor) will be a decentralized entity with legal status and its own assets, under the oversight of the President of the Republic through the Ministry of Agriculture. It will serve as the legal successor to the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

This was made clear during the first session in which the Senate chamber began the detailed review of this initiative, which is in its second legislative stage. The service will focus on the protection, promotion, conservation, preservation, recovery, restoration, and sustainable management of forests and other vegetation formations in the country, as well as associated natural components. It will also promote the development of new forests and other formations on lands primarily suited for forestry.

During the first session of detailed discussion, senators were presented with reports from the joint Agriculture and Environment, Climate Change, and National Assets committees, as well as the Finance Committee.

It is worth noting that the Labor and Social Security Committee also studied the labor regulations included in the bill, which seeks to improve the wildfire protection system through special regulations. This includes creating a National Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction to strengthen coordination within the framework of Senapred and Sinapred, as well as establishing new firefighting functions.

In this regard, the staff of the new National Forest Service will be governed by the Labor Code, the provisions of Decree Law No. 249 of 1974 (which sets the unified salary scale), and the modernization allowance under Articles 1 to 8 of Law No. 19,553.

Additionally, staff may join the welfare program of the National Forest Service. It is important to note that Conaf employees with active contracts at the time of the transition to Sernafor will be automatically transferred by law and without interruption to the National Forest Service.

Conaf Forests

Senator Rafael Prohens, in his capacity as chair of the joint Agriculture and Environment committees, reported to the chamber on the work carried out in these joint instances, which included public hearings and the formation of multisectoral technical roundtables to reach agreements and facilitate debate in the joint committees.

Senator Alejandra Sepúlveda explained that while this bill is "very important and highly complex, it has some difficulties, as certain groups have pointed out. However, the most crucial aspect is that it resolves an issue even the Comptroller General has highlighted—the urgent need for Conaf's functions to be under a public institution."

In turn, Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena acknowledged Conaf workers for "protecting for so many years the 14 million hectares of protected wilderness areas and national parks in this country—a country that should take pride in the care, protection, and safeguarding they have provided, often under very precarious conditions, with few exceptions." She also emphasized the Ministry of Agriculture's challenge in promoting agroforestry.

Senator Iván Flores joined in recognizing the work done in the committees, stating, "We all agree and know that forests, which are linked to water and climate change, are a priority and part of our heritage. The potential for growth, especially of native species and some introduced species that thrive better here than in their countries of origin, requires careful management—not just exploitation."

Meanwhile, Senator Alfonso De Urresti emphasized both the situation of urban wetlands and the labor conditions of Conaf workers, noting that "there are also continuity rules that I believe are extremely important to consider. I urge strict adherence in this matter to ensure no workers or functions are left behind or adversely affected."

For his part, Senator Gastón Saavedra praised the initiative and stressed the need to "address wildfire prevention and combat efforts systematically and effectively." He called for "allocating the necessary resources to ensure proper operations, especially during this fire season."

Senator David Sandoval also highlighted "Conaf's role and its employees over 54 years of institutional development," as well as "the need to drive a reformulation—a modernization, really—of the institution, as it is now an unavoidable task."

Finally, Agriculture Minister Esteban Valenzuela highlighted the extensive work done and noted that the demand for a National Forest Service dates back to the 1980s. He also assured that the legislation "clearly defines the boundaries between the SBAP (Biodiversity Service) and the National Forest Service... Conaf's oversight role has also been strengthened."

He added, "At the same time, we are advancing in the final phase of the Wildfire Law, where Conaf—soon to be Sernafor—will have enhanced and critical powers in prevention, mitigation, and penalties for non-compliance with measures to mitigate mega forest fires."