Some good(ish)

Andrew with members of an indigenous community (Traslado),
threatended by a massive deforestsion project for cattle ranching.

Whilst deforestation of the Chaco continues unabated, we are pleased to say we have some encouraging news. Our ongoing monitoring of deforestation applications (see www.desmontesalta.blogspot.com has contributed to raising awareness of the problem. It has also helped concerned groups to gain access to vital information which in turn enables and empowers them in their campaigning.

This last week has been a real rollercoaster. We received news of two applications for deforestation for two properties covering over 40 thousand acres and which were due to be subject to a “public enquiry” (audiencia publica) on Monday 8^th October. These events mark the final hoop through which a land owner must jump before permission is given for deforestation to begin. The events are often a mere rubber stamp as there is little if any informed opposition to proposals. The events also tend to be conducted in locations well away from the affected area and communities.

A brief but intensive series of discussions initiated by ASOCIANA, and which also saw the involvement of other local NGOs, has resulted (apparently) in these public meetings being postponed. This will allow us more time too help local communities top participate in these meetings and get themselves heard.

We have recently heard that out timely participation in a previous public enquiry has put temporary breaks on a request by 2 Americans to deforest some 70,000 acres elsewhere in the Chaco. Though the future of those forests is far from certain, they still stand, and can therefore still be negotiated over.

These different actions have helped us build up our experience in dealing with deforestation. It has also meant we have been able to have some discussions with government officials about how we might contribute towards a wider debate on land-use planning. If this does take shape, it would mean we would be in a stronger position to help indigenous peoples have a greater say on where and how agricultural expansion may be developed, therby reducing some of the negative impacts on them and the local environment.

We have provincial and national elections coming up at the end of the month, so we still need to see who will end up in power. This will determine how the aforementioned initiatives develop. Elections are on the 28^th October.

The following video clip is of a meeting in which ASOCIANA presented information on deforeststion applications to the community of Pacara (near Tartagal). People are seen discussing the threat they face, speaking in their native language: wichi