The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Lago Puelo is investigating a suspected case of large-scale illegal logging in a forested area of high environmental and economic value, in the access to Lago Puelo, in the area known as Cerro Taza de Té. The complaint was filed on April 8th by the Director of Forest Policies of the Secretariat of Forests, Mariano Rodríguez, after detecting mobile sawmills operating without authorization on provincial lands.
According to the official’s statement to the police, the control operation was carried out in the La Yoica alley, on Cerro Radal, where the staff found illegal settlements and forest exploitation without the corresponding permits, neither municipal nor provincial. The area lacks security cameras, which would have facilitated clandestine actions.
Following the complaint, the Prosecutor’s Office —led by Chief Prosecutor Carlos Díaz Mayer and Prosecutor Débora Barrionuevo— ordered a raid at the location, where a large amount of processed wood and logs ready for transportation were found. However, by that time, the mobile sawmills that had been detected 24 hours earlier were no longer there.
Forest employees suspect that there was a prior notice to the judicial procedure, possibly from an official vehicle. It was also verified that part of the cargo had been removed before the intervention, and a cart that was to be seized disappeared.
**High-Value Wood and Massive Deforestation**
During the operation, more than 1,000 logs of Oregon pine and Murray pine and around 50,000 feet of already sawn wood were identified, all of illegal origin. According to official estimates, the seized wood —mostly of high quality and 50 years old— has an estimated value of over $350 million, a figure that could rise to $1 billion if the total missing material is considered.
Since the start of the investigation, over 40 workers from the Secretariat of Forests have been assigned to the site to guard the area, transport the seized material, and assist in judicial proceedings. The agency’s executives remain in the area collaborating with the Justice system and gathering key information to determine responsibilities.
The case remains open and aims not only to clarify the incident but also to dismantle possible networks of illegal logging in an area of high ecological value.
**The Negative Impact of Illegal Logging**
Illegal logging has various negative consequences, including the loss of biodiversity, climate change, soil erosion, and the loss of habitats for animal species. Additionally, it can cause desertification and the displacement of indigenous populations.
**Consequences:**
– **Loss of biodiversity:** Illegal logging eliminates natural habitats, affecting numerous plant and animal species, endangering their survival.
– **Climate change:** Trees absorb carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases. Illegal logging reduces the forests’ capacity to absorb CO2, contributing to climate change.
– **Soil erosion and desertification:** Trees help maintain soil in place. By removing trees, soil erosion accelerates, leading to desertification and loss of fertile land.
– **Loss of habitats:** Illegal logging displaces numerous species from their habitats, potentially reducing populations and, in some cases, leading to extinction.
– **Displacement of indigenous populations:** Illegal logging can affect indigenous communities and local populations dependent on forests for survival, causing their displacement.
– **Effects on the water cycle:** Forests play a significant role in regulating the water cycle. Deforestation can alter these cycles, leading to droughts and increased flooding.
– **Social and economic problems:** Illegal logging can generate social and economic conflicts, as well as corruption, especially if local authorities or officials are involved.
Source: Red43.
