News

Protect and Educate About Native Forests

Sponsors

Editorial byLa Discusión

Over the past decade, more than a thousand hectares of native forest have been illegally logged in the Ñuble Region. A widely known problem, yet unresolved to this day, where lack of information and difficulties in enforcement are key factors.

The most affected areas have primarily been in the communes of Yungay and El Carmen, where the Nevados de Chillán-Laguna del Laja biological corridor extends through the foothills. This area was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, a designation that holds little practical value when it comes to protecting trees from the interests behind the firewood market.

Species such as coigüe, lenga, ñirre, oak, and raulí, which grow in higher-altitude areas, fall victim to so-called "floreo" or small-scale logging. Because these operations cover small areas, they are very difficult to detect for inspectors monitoring via satellite imagery or ground patrols.

CONAF (National Forestry Corporation) states that the main causes are heating needs, but there is also a noticeable interest in illegal firewood trade—in fact, many cases involve timber theft. Unfortunately, the penalties established by law for illegal logging correspond to twice the commercial value of the felled trees, with a minimum of 5 UTM per hectare (just over 240,000 pesos), an amount far from deterring potential offenders and one that, in reality, is rarely enforced.

While CONAF claims there is a downward trend based on enforcement data—attributed to increased education and reinforced on-site inspections—it’s hard not to think these statistics hide a much more concerning reality.

In this context, it’s puzzling that, on one hand, the government is making efforts to regulate firewood trade, including subsidies for firewood producers, while on the other, enforcement tools remain so limited and ineffective.

As is well known, native forests provide multiple environmental benefits, such as protecting soil from erosion, conserving biodiversity, capturing carbon and particulate matter, and water production, among others.

Today, amid a complex environmental scenario with ongoing climate change, actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting high-value natural areas—such as native forest reforestation and degraded soil recovery—take on special importance. It is hoped that the Executive Branch will accelerate legislative progress with key projects like the National Forest Service and the Forest Subsidy. However, advancing education is also crucial to raise awareness, especially among younger generations, about the environmental benefits of native forests.