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CONAF and SMA Give Green Light to Strict Oversight Work to Prevent Forest Fires
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A new strategy to avoid or minimize the effects of forest fires, whose peak occurrence period is about to begin, will be implemented by the National Forestry Corporation and the Environmental Superintendency, in a joint effort by state agencies.
Professionals from CONAF and the SMA recently met to initiate strict oversight work aimed at ensuring compliance with Forest Fire Contingency and Emergency Plans related to projects with Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) and Environmental Impact Declarations (DIA).
The initiative will focus on projects located in areas classified as very high risk for forest fires, seeking to strengthen threat reduction in the face of these disasters, especially preparation and response to potential emergencies.
This innovation was developed by the technical teams of the Forest Oversight and Environmental Assessment Management (GEF) and the Forest Fire Protection Management (Geprif), and was agreed upon with the SMA, with the main objective of verifying compliance with commitments established in the Contingency and Emergency Plans contained in the Environmental Qualification Resolutions (RCA). This will allow for timely detection of potential deviations and the adoption of preventive measures to mitigate risks.
The review will be conducted both documentarily and on-site. In cases where non-compliance or outdated plans are detected, CONAF may request their correction or updating, as established by current regulations. With this action, it is expected that Contingency and Emergency Plans will become more robust and effective, thereby improving project preparedness for the occurrence of forest fires.
For the implementation of the strategy, CONAF will have specialized technical teams and will prioritize internal coordination and inter-institutional collaboration.
In this way, the commitment of CONAF and the SMA to the prevention and mitigation of forest fires and the protection of the country's plant ecosystems is reaffirmed, urging all stakeholders to work together to reduce risks and safeguard Chile's natural heritage.
