Between late December and early January, in **Misiones**, cases of **illegal hunting and logging** were reported. It is the first time, since records have been kept, that something similar has happened in a protected natural area.
It occurred in the **Piñalito Provincial Park**, in the San Pedro Department. Park rangers warned that they do not have the necessary resources to combat **this type of illicit activity**.
Illegal hunting and logging in Misiones: what happened
In the history of the **Ministry of Ecology of Misiones**, there are hardly any records of wood being stolen from a protected provincial park.
Most cases, which are **many and “very frequent,”** as reported by local media, occur on private properties that are not guarded.
Recently, between late December and the first days of the year, large quantities of wood stolen from the Piñalito Provincial Park were reported.
It is a reserve of over 3000 hectares, **red category, intangible** (meaning the extraction of native forest is completely prohibited). In addition, it houses an **important variety of native flora and fauna**.
According to information from Ecology sources to the site *Primera Edición*, at least five or six trucks loaded with logs were removed.
Several park rangers consulted by the same media explained that they have not had resources for patrols for some time, such as vehicles or **communication systems between parks**.
Chaco’s fight against illegal logging to protect forests
Illegal logging and deforestation are serious problems in some Argentine provinces. The case of Chaco is notorious because it faces a monumental challenge in the **preservation of its forests**.
With thousands of hectares cleared each year due to **illegal logging**, the actions of local authorities and citizen collaboration have become crucial to halt the advance of deforestation.
In this context, at the end of 2024, the director of Forests of Chaco, **Gustavo Vázquez**, shared details about the efforts being made to combat this scourge, emphasizing the **fundamental role of the community**.
“When many of us get involved in taking care of what is ours, everything becomes easier. And I am sure that **we will succeed if they help us**,” Vázquez expressed. The official also mentioned the use of advanced technology, such as drones, to detect [areas where illegal deforestation is taking place](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/grave-denuncia-por-desmontes-ilegales-en-santiago-del-estero-y-chaco/).
In 2023, according to data provided by the Forests Directorate, between 50,000 and 60,000 hectares of **Chaco forest** were deforested.
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