Chile Forum

Forest fires have burned for more than a week in the Noreste Sector outside of Futaleufu, Region X, consuming more than 45 hectares of native forest stretching up the cordilla outside of town. There is no threat to the town. Firefighters, and volunteers have joined with Conaf helicopters from Region VI to fight the blaze which appears to be partially under control. The fires, which started more than a week ago are suspicious, locals claiming careless tourist are to blame, but no clear evidence has been found. Hots spots flare up as the winds and dry weather compound the firefighters efforts to combat a fire in remote and steep areas.

I'll say an AMEN to your subject line!

I posted this over on your other fire thread, but should fit here as well:

yea, from what i have seen some of the local ranchers have a real nack for burning their fields and "accidentally" burning the forest to get around the forestry restrictions that would not allow them to clear the forest on their property. There is a subsidy from the government to clear burned fire areas like that. So, there are more than a few motives for the locals to start a fire. They get new pasture land, and a payment from the government for clearing the fallen trees after words. They are not really controlled burns.

As wonderful as the people in the campo are in the Patagonia, at times their ignorance can really let them shoot themselves in the foot. We have seen more than a few 1,000+ stands of trees wiped out by ignorance in the Patagonia.

It is just short term greed. We have been strongly pushing every chance we get to reinforce to them that their property is worthless if they burn or cut your trees. No foreigner is going to buy a view of a bunch of burned trees. We have out right told a few, if you burn your trees don't waist your time calling us to try and sell your property after words. We won't show it to our clients, and your property will be worth 10% of what it is with the trees green and growing. But they often just see the couple hundred thousand pesos they will get from clearing the forest.