The Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), Fernando Mattos, highlighted the improvements in coordination, prevention and preparation to face fires, including an increase in air capacity. Likewise, he announced that the ban on burning in the open air comes into force today the 1st, and that the General Forestry Directorate will inspect properties and sanction producers who fail to comply with the regulations.
Also participating in the activity, this Monday 31, the Forestry General Director, Carlos Faroppa; the president of the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology, Pablo Cabrera; the deputy director of Operations and Logistics of the National Emergency System (Sinae), Esteban González; the representative of the National Directorate of Firefighters, Martín Bogao, and the president of the Society of Forest Producers, Nelson Ledesma.
In statements to the press, Mattos mentioned that the combination of factors such as the agricultural emergency, water deficit and climate change predispose the origin of fires. In this context, he highlighted that the fire has affected vast plantation areas, which harms production, people and the environment.
He also stressed that the State has more technology, equipment and capacity to face risks. “We are more prepared,” he added. In addition, he pondered the coordination with representatives of the private sector to install early warning systems that allow a rapid response. He added that there is currently greater air capacity, with agricultural planes piloted by trained personnel.
Mattos explained that there will be aerial simulation exercises on November 20 in Santa Teresa, coordinated by Sinae and the National Fire Department, with the support of forest producers and the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries.
He underscored the importance of awareness. “It is very important to be alert to the new season that is coming up and that will have predisposing conditions,” he said, adding that the ban on open-air burning will come into effect as of next Tuesday, November 1.
Finally, the hierarch maintained that the General Forestry Directorate doubled the inspections of properties during 2022, and that a modification to the Accountability Law was approved that established the sanctioning capacity for the aforementioned agency. Penalties will be applied to producers who do not comply with the regulations.
Meanwhile, Carlos Faroppa explained that the General Forestry Directorate carried out field inspections to detect non-compliance. In case of verifying infractions, those responsible may correct them within a certain period. If this does not happen, administrative and economic sanctions will be applied.
He also recalled the inconveniences generated by the appearance of fires, such as damage to the ecosystem, the risk to people and homes and the expense of allocating resources to extinguish the fire.
unprecedented fire
It was in December of last year. An unprecedented forest fire destroyed more than 37 thousand hectares of forests. The skills detected several simultaneous outbreaks in Paysandú and Río Negro, which warranted the opening of an investigation. As a result of this catastrophe, the Ministers of the Interior, Luis Alberto Heber, and of Livestock, Fernando Mattos, were summoned to the Permanent Commission. Heber highlighted the professional work of the Firefighters and also the collaboration of the population to prevent the fires from reaching populated areas. In relation to the skills carried out by a specialized technical body, the Minister of the Interior confirmed the existence of several intentional sources.
