Argentinian Wildfires

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Argentina needs your help! Raging wildfires in forests and grasslands are spreading in the the northern and central regions of Argentina, with outbreaks in at least a dozen provinces.

Key facts:

As of August 2020, 90 thousand hectares were burned in the Delta del Paraná wildfires

In the first six months of 2020, 3,000 fire sources were registered in the Paraná Delta area.

As of September 1st, there are 22,000 fires burning.

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On August 17 in Cordoba, strong fires started in the north of the Punilla valley, which then spread to nearby areas reaching the limits of Cosquín, San Fernando and Capilla del Monte. As a consequence, Argentina is currently facing more than 90 thousand hectares burned. In this sense, the effects are worrisome: biodiversity has been degraded, harming the native flora and fauna; small producers have suffered economic losses; and material damage has been generated in the homes of those who live in this area. Furthermore, some 150 people have had to be evacuated, and many of them have lost all their belongings. Throughout the complex week, some 300 volunteer firefighters from nearby towns have worked trying to fight the fire -which has reached a height of 10 meters-, many times assisted by the neighbors themselves. There are veterinarians -also volunteers- who collaborate with the rescue and the necessary attention to save part of the fauna. These networks, in turn, are receiving donations obtained through numerous campaigns carried out by different social and political organizations.

The reason for these fires is quite clear, the sierras of Cordoba are not only rich in minerals, but also very attractive for real estate businesses. The provincial government has limited itself to justifying the situation in the context of the great annual drought, silencing the debate about the true causes - even known by local inhabitants - as well as obstructing the possibility of discussing, creating and/or reinforcing policies related to land use planning, and prevention and strict control in these cases. Both these fires -as well as the others present throughout the country- are the result of a truly worrisome general socio-environmental crisis, which we can no longer ignore and which requires urgent attention. An irresponsible administration of resources, negligence in the face of emerging problems, are the main factors that have converged in a present where life is in danger. Directly or indirectly, Cordoba is affected by fire, and unfortunately, this does not end when it goes out. Finally, it should be noted that - despite the fact that the focus is now on fires - the province presents problems related to waste management, noise and air pollution, and of course, those related to the use of agrochemicals. We are in continuous movement to stop the fires, not only with water and donations, but also by fighting for the sanction of the necessary laws and their corresponding compliance.

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