News

Forestry Contractors Criticize Government for Neglect of the Sector

Sponsors

The Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag) described President Gabriel Boric's administration as poor regarding its attention to the sector's demands. One of the issues that continues to cause the most concern is security, an area where concrete measures are still awaited to address the acts of violence occurring in the south-central part of the country.

"Despite the government's flattering figures, we maintain the same number of attacks as last year: we had 26, and today, to date, we have the same number. That is, in our case, nothing has progressed. And what does that imply? That it is difficult to work in the forest and complicated to develop the forestry sector because without security there is no investment. This is reflected in the fact that large transnational companies like Arauco and CMPC have left the country," stated René Muñoz, manager of Acoforag, to VerticeTV.

In Congress, the forestry promotion law—of utmost importance for recovering deforested lands—remains stalled. The guild points out that political will and a joint effort are required to unblock this initiative.

"The latest figure from INFOR speaks of between one million and 1.4 million hectares that are currently deforested and could be the basis for a future forestry heritage. These can be planted with exotic species, undoubtedly, because there is an installed industrial capacity to process them, but also with native species. Let's all support each other so that the State, which has the legal initiative, pushes forward a bill that serves the country. Today that bill is sleeping in Congress," he stated.

Another project stalled in Parliament is the one related to forest fires, which urgently needs to move forward. "Recently, a person was arrested in Melipilla for causing a fire, and today they are free. Thousands of hectares were burned, and that person is free. They are alienated people who burn for pleasure, and that must have a sanction," emphasized Muñoz.

He added that in Chile, only between 3% and 5% of people tried for arson offenses receive prison sentences, while in Europe the figure reaches 30%. "Something is being done wrong in Chile. So wrong, that we have a fire law that ultimately blames the small landowner. Even if their property is in order, with firebreaks and mitigation measures required by CONAF, if the fire originates elsewhere and passes through their land, the fines still reach them," he explained.

Muñoz detailed that initially the bill contemplated fines of up to 10 thousand UTM—equivalent to about 600 million pesos—a figure that was later reduced to 3 thousand or even 1 thousand UTM. "But even 1 thousand UTM is 60 million pesos, a sum that a small landowner does not have. So, what do they have to pay? Ultimately, third parties are blamed, and the State does not assume the responsibility that currently falls to it in the control and management of fires," he emphasized.

Finally, he indicated that in a future working table with representatives of the next government, they hope to present the sector's needs, as well as the actions that must be implemented to safeguard the security and health of forestry workers.

The note on VerticeTV's Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQnZoud-_ak