The organization Árbol VLA issued a strong warning: Villa La Angostura is at environmental risk. This is a locality nestled in a privileged but fragile territory, within a National Park. Through a campaign of reflection, the group invites to rethink how this natural space is being inhabited and transformed, increasingly affected by destructive practices.
According to the organization, the message is not alarmist: it’s urgent. Árbol VLA denounces indiscriminate logging, earth movements for construction and filling of wetlands, actions that not only modify the landscape but also cause irreversible damage to key ecosystems such as water basins, habitats of native species and biological corridors.
In their constant task of environmental education, the organization collaborates with educational institutions, publishes content on social media, partners with other groups, and participates in community actions to sow environmental awareness in daily life.
The value of knowing the place we inhabit
Villa La Angostura is not just any land development: it’s a territory with unique native species, sensitive basins, and cultural value, all of which justified its designation as a National Park. That’s why there are specific regulations, such as Municipal Ordinance 1394/2004, which protects tree species like myrtle, tineo, and palo santo, or the recent Ordinance 4172/2024, which regulates pruning, felling, and clearing practices to minimize environmental impacts.
Provincial laws also stand out, such as Law 2780/2012, on the management of native forests, and Law 1890/1991, which protects the Araucaria Araucana, a botanical emblem of the Neuquén province.
From Árbol VLA, they insist on pausing to consider that the actions taken could be the first step towards a more balanced future, where the natural beauty of La Angostura is not just a memory, but a preserved reality.
Waterfall in Pichi Traful. Photo: Villa La Angostura.</caption]
Environmental education: a tool for transformation
Environmental education goes beyond teaching ecological concepts: it promotes the development of responsible, informed, and committed citizens towards their environment. In such delicate territories like Villa La Angostura, knowledge and awareness make the difference between conservation and deterioration.
It involves learning about local and provincial regulations, understanding the role of each species within the ecosystem, and acting with respect towards biodiversity and natural heritage. It also requires unlearning, questioning established customs, and being able to change habits that negatively impact the environment.
Promoting environmental education is a way to halt the spread of destructive practices disguised as development. It’s understanding that inhabiting a National Park entails rights, but above all, collective and individual responsibilities.
Source: Inés Dominguez for Grupo Arbol VLA – Diario Andino.
