Ecobreves – CHILE: Reforesting a Burnt Park

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SANTIAGO, Mar 28 2005 (IPS) - A month after the fire that destroyed 15,470 hectares of native forest in the Torres del Paine National Park, in the far south of Chile, efforts have begun to reforest the area with 'ñirres' (Nothofagus antarctica), 'lengas' (Nothofagus pumilio) and other native tree species. The national forestry agency, CONAF, reported on Mar. 21 that the initial work will be concentrated in the 800-hectare area hardest hit of the 2,400 hectares affected by the blaze.

The fire was started Feb. 17 by a Czech tourist who accidentally tipped over his camp stove in an unauthorized area. A controversial court ruling ordered that he pay a fine equivalent to just 213 dollars.

Sara Larraín, head of the environmental group Sustainable Chile, told Tierramérica the losses caused by the forest fire reach an estimated 3.4 million dollars.