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International Cooperation: Czech Republic Ambassador Appreciates Reforestation Progress in Maule

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The Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Pavel Bechný, visited the Pantanillo forest nursery of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) Maule, located in the town of Santa Olga, commune of Constitución. On-site and with firsthand information, the diplomat verified the progress of the international cooperation project implemented by the Corporation for the recovery of the area affected by the mega-fire that occurred in 2017.

Accompanying Bechný and his delegation on the tour were the National Manager of Forests and Climate Change of Conaf, Jorge Céspedes; the Regional Director of Conaf, María Isabel Florido; the Acting Regional Minister of Agriculture, Juan Pablo López; and the Head of Division and Planning of the Regional Government, Antonieta Morales, representing Governor Pedro Pablo Álvarez-Salamanca.

"I am pleasantly surprised by the information obtained, mainly because the Czech cooperation regarding reforestation after the fires gave a great boost to the nursery, to the reforestation work, and because the help from the Czech Republic was key for this type of activity. Hearing that production increased from 15 thousand plants to 45 thousand thanks to Czech cooperation was very satisfying for me, and I am extremely happy with this result," highlighted the top diplomatic authority of the Czech Republic.

Continuity of the Work

It is estimated that to cover the various programs of the Department of Forests and Climate Change of Conaf, an annual production of 450 thousand plants is required in the Maule Region.

Although the needs remain high, the diplomatic visit along with national and regional authorities will serve to project other useful mechanisms for improving the nursery's infrastructure, as well as strengthening bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and Chile.

"With the continuation of the cooperation, we can achieve good results, and I hope this is a success and that my visit boosts this cooperation from the authorities and strengthens the bond between Chile and the Czech Republic through reforestation," anticipated the ambassador.

Indeed, having received the representative of the Czech government in Chile, the Regional Director of Conaf stated, "has allowed us to have a vision for projecting joint work associated with plant production, since the Maule region has a significant need to recover those areas that, as a result of various catastrophes, usually associated with forest fires, have occurred in our region."

In that sense, the collaboration of the Czech Government has been fundamental in advancing the recovery goals. This was expressed by the National Manager of Forests and Climate Change, Jorge Céspedes.

"The work and collaboration of the Czech Government has been significant in our country for some time. For over 20 years, they have been part of the challenges we have had to face, mainly due to natural disasters, and have been a strategic ally for Conaf. Today, we have been able to verify that and, even better, to project the challenges that we will jointly face for the sustainable and lasting development of our forests and natural resources," emphasized Céspedes.

From the Maule Regional Government, meanwhile, they reaffirmed their willingness to contribute to the realization of the territory's restoration. "For us as the Maule Regional Government, with our governor who chairs the Regional Climate Change Plan, which aligns precisely with this line, our commitment is to continue supporting initiatives of this kind that allow us to implement measures that anticipate risk situations in Maule," indicated Antonieta Morales, Head of Division and Planning.