News

Conaf: Mega-fire did not erase evidence of reforestation questioned by deputies

Sponsors

• The agency responds to lawmakers' conclusions and denies that the fire completely destroyed the native forest plantation with a low survival rate.

"No information or evidence has been erased regarding the significant efforts the institution has undertaken to restore the ecosystems of the Lago Peñuelas National Reserve." This was the response from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) to the investigative committee of the Chamber of Deputies, which examined the government's actions during the mega-fire in February in Viña del Mar and Quilpué, which left 137 dead.

The committee's report, which must be voted on by the full chamber, strongly points to the responsibilities it attributes to Conaf, accusing the agency of making errors in the preparation, planning, and operational execution of firefighting efforts. These errors allegedly left it blind to the fire's path toward the two cities, describing them as "grave and inexcusable mistakes that could constitute crimes."

"The fire destroyed much of the evidence that could determine the mishandling of the bidding process for Conaf's reforestation projects," notes the committee's chairman, Radical Party deputy Tomás Lagomarsino.

The congressman is referring to the report that denounces "the existence of a native flora reforestation project awarded through direct negotiation, which by the end of 2023 had only a 30% survival rate—extremely low for a project of this nature. The surviving plantations were entirely burned."

Controversy

The project in question began in 2021, with the goal of replacing exotic plantations inside the Lago Peñuelas National Reserve with native species. According to a letter sent by Conaf's executive director, Christian Little, to the committee, that year $239 million was paid to contractor Carla Araya Ltda. to plant 212,000 specimens of Mediterranean forest species. The same report indicates a 44% survival rate.

According to Conaf's professional union, this rate is very low, considering that the private forestry industry does not accept less than 75%, even accounting for drought conditions. They also note that an internal report from the Environmental Oversight Department found survival rates of 33%, 26%, and 4%, depending on the planting technique used. The union calls it a "failed" project.

However, Conaf's national leadership, while confirming the project was tendered, argues that the low performance in 2021 was due to exceptional drought that year and that the numbers improved in 2022 and 2023.

They explain that in 2022, Comercial Sebastián Estrada EIRL was awarded $123 million to plant across 90 hectares, and in 2023, through direct negotiation, the task was assigned to Servicios Forestales El Roble for 64 hectares at $81 million. Additionally, a native species replanting project was awarded in 2023 to Biocys Spa, but only $25 million of the $84 million contract was paid due to the company's non-compliance.

"The fire affected only 172 hectares, representing 36% of the total area under reconversion. Over 300 hectares of the restoration process remain intact and can be visited," they assert.

Source: subscription edition ofEl Mercurio