Argentina: Pasture fires affect wetlands in the Parana Delta islands

Grassland fires devastate wetlands on the islands of the Parana Delta, north of Buenos Aireswhich destroys the environment and endangers health due to smoke, authorities warned on Tuesday.

“Fire is inevitable in these very unfavorable weather conditions, with a drought lasting four years, and a strong descent of the river Paraná, criminally. Anyone who sets fire in such conditions cannot be ignorant of the context in which he does it,” the Deputy Minister of the Environment told Radio 10. Sergio Fedorovsky.

Setting fire to clear fields for future plantings is a traditional practice in Argentina and this is repeated every year, but according to Fedorovsky fires are also used to “convert wetlands into future developments”.

Burning grasslands visible from roads crossing provinces Santa Fe D Between the riversand its smoke, which more than a week ago settled over the city of Rosario, 310 km north of Buenos Airesthis Tuesday he was smelled and also seen in the Argentine capital.

Detention

Three people were arrested on Monday when they were found preparing to set fire to dry vegetation in a wetland near the city of Entre Rios. Victory, and remained at the disposal of justice, said a police source.

Due to heavy smoke security Agency from the province Santa Fe decided to interrupt traffic on Monday night on the bridge connecting the cities rosary beads D Victoryin Between rivers.

Forest fires on river islands Paraná who were registered last month consumed more than 10,000 hectares, according to Environmental Observatory of the National University of Rosario.

Fedorovsky demanded more speed from justice, arguing that the environmental authorities handed over to the judge of the state of Victoria “the exact geolocation of the beginning of each of the fires obtained using thermal imaging cameras installed in the area by the Ministry of the Environment.”

In addition, they asked the province for details of the owners of plots where recurring fires occur in order to report them, because “there is a deliberate action by the owners of the fields,” the official insisted.

Another lawsuit, filed two years ago against powerful businessmen for setting fire to pastures, produced no progress in justice.

In Rosario, home to 1.5 million people, there have been massive demonstrations in recent days demanding “an end to deliberate arson” and “immediate passage of the Wetlands Law.”

(According to AFP)