The Senate Chamber of the Province of Salta approved the new map of Native Forest Territorial Planning (OTBN) in Salta. The updates are mandatory by law, but the details of this modification have sparked strong criticism.
The map allows the clearing of 700,000 hectares, prompting a strong protest from Greenpeace: “devastating blow”.
New territorial planning in Salta and protests
In an ordinary session, the Senate Chamber of the Province definitively approved the new local Territorial Planning map on Thursday. This deepened the wave of criticism from sectors of civil society and environmental organizations, which had already protested upon the presentation of the project.
Greenpeace protested against the new territorial planning of Salta.
“This map, which authorizes the clearing of more than 700,000 hectares of forests, contradicts the Forest Law and disregards the demands of civil society, marking an unprecedented setback in the environmental protection of the region,” criticized Greenpeace Argentina.
“We will report this regressive planning to the Supreme Court, within the framework of the protection for the jaguar. More clearings mean less chances of survival for the last jaguars in the Chaco region,” pointed out Noemà Cruz, coordinator of the Forest Campaign of the NGO at the local level.
According to their arguments, the approval of this planning deepens the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity, favoring the impunity of those who destroy the environment.
Earlier this month, Greenpeace activists protested in front of the Legislative Palace wearing the characteristic outfits of the Infernal Gauchos of Güemes.
“The approved planning legalizes clearings where they were previously prohibited and creates transitional categories not contemplated by Law 26,331, which practically blurs any real limit to the clearings,” added Cruz.
“Without consultation”
Furthermore, it was criticized that the proposal was developed without prior consultation with indigenous communities, violating fundamental rights established in national and international regulations.
“The lack of guarantees for the protection of biological corridors between communities further compromises the survival of indigenous peoples and the wildlife of the region, such as the iconic jaguar,” they argued.
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