By decision of the Ministry of Ecology and Renewable Natural Resources of Misiones, the municipality of Dos de Mayo must plant more than 100 trees. This measure was taken after the locality felled native trees on a municipal site, in order to offset the environmental impact.
Although this action by the locality of Dos de Mayo entails a significant economic sanction, the reality is that the Ministry only demanded compensation through the planting of native species. This decision by the Misiones authorities sparked criticism from other municipalities alleging alleged favoritism and contradictions in the handling of the case.
In response to these accusations, the board led by Martín Recamán stated that the state of the area was verified before and after the intervention through satellite images. Additionally, the authorities emphasized that the site where the native trees were felled does not belong to the System of Protected Natural Areas nor is it subject to provincial laws on Forests and Protected Areas. Nevertheless, the Ministry stressed that any action with environmental impact must be reported, in order to be able to work together.
However, the Municipality justified that the felling of native trees on the site was a solution to the poor phytosanitary condition and the risk of branch breakage, in a place where events with up to 3,000 people are held.
Reforesting trees, the Ministry’s sanction
After the Ministry established its demands, different environmental restoration tasks were carried out, including the planting of more than 100 native trees in the Parque de las Naciones and Parque Sur, along with the placement of signs to promote environmental awareness.
In addition to the requirements, authorities recommended involving the citizenship and the Deliberative Council before carrying out future interventions in green spaces.
A locality in Misiones had to reforest a municipal site after felling native trees without authorization. Photo: Primera Edición.
The importance of reforesting native forests
Native forests are vital for life on Earth and hold great importance for the services they provide, including:
- Conservation of biodiversity: Native forests harbor 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, including plants, insects, birds, reptiles, fungi, and mammals.
- Climate change control: Native forests capture carbon dioxide and fix greenhouse gases, helping to mitigate climate change.
- Protection of watersheds: Native forests regulate the water cycle and help prevent flooding.
- Soil stabilization: Native forests control erosion and help conserve and restore soil.
- Resource sources: Native forests offer a wide variety of resources such as food, water, wood, firewood, fruits, honey, medicines, among others.
- Cultural value: Native forests have deep social and cultural value for the peoples who live in and from them.
- Biological control: Native forests are a source of beneficial insects that help keep crop pests at low levels.
- Pollination: Native forests contribute to pollination.
Do you already know our YouTube channel? Subscribe!
