Fire Advances To Charagua And Calculates 2 Centuries To Repair Ecological Damage

The forest fire that affects the Chiquitanía Cruzña loses some force in the area of ​​Roboré and San Ignacio thanks to the action of the Fire and volunteer teams and also to the wind; nevertheless, the fire advances without obstacles towards the south, to Charagua; to the north, to San José de Chiquitos, and towards the border of Paraguay.

Meanwhile, the College of Agricultural Engineers of Santa Cruz (Cinacruz) estimated that nature will take about 200 years to repair the ecological damage caused by the fire.

“(La Chiquitanía) is very large and diverse, there are thousands of species, from insects, major and minor animals. The dry Chiquitano forest is unique in the world, restoring such a forest takes more than 200 years. There are unique species of trees and fauna, also a special condition of soil type and ecological characteristics, ”the president of the collegiate cross-country entity Juvenal Bonilla told Fides.

The mayor of Roboré, Iván Quezada, in contact with Los Tiempos, explained that the wind changed course towards the opposite side of the fire, which allowed several sources of fire to be controlled.

He said that the measurement of air quality in the area showed that the maximum level of pollution doubled, so it was decided to suspend classes in 54 educational units.

He explained that while the fire in Roboré was partially suppressed, the heat sources extend to the neighboring municipality of Charagua.

He said that the most serious problem is the lack of water, because the fires are added to the hard drought that hits the population and the productive sector. The municipality has 45 thousand head of cattle.

The mayor of San Ignacio de Velasco, Moisés Salces, said that "the wind has helped us, it has calmed down and that is helping" but that there is still a 30-kilometer-wide spot of fire that advances from Roboré to the north, affecting San Rafael with direction to its municipality.

He criticized that "the most unfortunate thing is that the minister (of Defense, Javier Zavaleta) made an overflight, but so far he has not helped anything."

He said that in his municipality there are 140 thousand hectares burned, 1,600 families affected, 40 heads of dead cattle and about 30 thousand at risk.

“I would merit a (declaration of) national disaster, and ask for international help. Although the Government has not come to help, hopefully tomorrow (for today) will come, ”he said.

He said it is the worst fire in recent years. "We have 140% more heat sources than in 2017, which was the worst year we have registered in terms of fires," he explained.

The Minister of Defense, after an overflight, said that 80% of the fire in San Ignacio (north) was controlled, as in San José de Chiquitos, but there are still hot spots that move further north.

Meanwhile, to the south, the sources of fire are controlled in Roboré; although other points of fire are moving south and some are already approaching the border with Paraguay.

“Throughout the Chiquitanía it has dropped (the fire) in its magnitude, it does not threaten any population or community, but we will still maintain the alert level and all our teams with the same deployment, until we have full certainty that the outbreaks they will not be reactivated, ”he said.

The commander of the Armed Forces, Williams Kaliman, explained that there are five helicopters and two planes operating in the area, which carried out 164 air operations and 139 water discharges.

The fire affects at least five municipalities: Roboré, San Ignacio, San José, Carmen Rivero and San Matías.

DATA

San Ramón declares red alert. The municipality of San Ramón, in Mamoré province, north of Beni, declared a red alert because of fires and drought.

Activate solidarity. In several parts of the country, aid collection points for those affected in the Chiquitanía were activated, as well as the sending of food and food aid.

Fire affects 500 species. Environmental organizations warned of the damage to more than 500 species of fauna, some endemic, by the voracious fires that have consumed half a million hectares of the Chiquitanía.

FEGASACRUZ ASKS TO DECLARE DISASTER

The Executive Board of the Livestock Federation of Santa Cruz (Fegasacruz) held an emergency meeting on forest fires and effects on the livestock sector, and determined to request a national disaster declaration in order to deal with the resources with more resources. The leader of the sector, Oscar Pereyra, said that the losses of the sector total more than 2 million dollars, so they request the intervention of the authorities.

ABT: NORM OF BURNS AND DISASSEMBLY IS NOT IN FORCE

CENTRAL DRAFTING

The director of the Forest and Land Authority (ABT), Civer Rocha, rejected the assertions that the fires in the Chiquitanía were caused by the application of Supreme Decree 3973, which authorizes burning and clearing and was promulgated by the president Evo Morales last June.

“(Some sectors) indicated that the decree was promulgated in May. Nowhere does it say that it can burn irresponsibly, we are not being objective, the decree is promulgated, but not executed, it has been promulgated in May, but it has no regulations and has not been executed, ”he said.

The rule, approved a few weeks before the fires begin, gave the green light so that, in the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni, the "controlled" clearing and burning of forests is authorized for agricultural activities on private and community lands. "We are living a difficult weather, trying to find a cause, a culprit is not well," said Rocha.

Along the same lines, the Minister of Rural Development and Land, César Cocarico, told Radio Éxito that it is "irrational and irresponsible" to blame the Government for the fire that affected the Chiquitanía.

The authority said that it is normal for chaqueos to occur at this time, and that it is a common activity in the agricultural sector.