[By Laura Ramajo, Claudia Alonso, Gabriela Guevara and Martín Jacques] February 8, 2023

The scientific evidence is clear in determining that the human settlements and roads of Chile, close to terrestrial ecosystems dominated by exotic species such as pines and eucalyptus, which also have low heterogeneity of the landscape and degraded soils, are more vulnerable to fires than those settlements and infrastructure close to native forests. It is also a fact that the change in land use, deforestation, artificial afforestation, the abandonment of agriculture and the increase in urbanization without adequate regulatory plans have permanently degraded the most navigative and native forests, putting at extreme risk Not only the biodiversity of these ecosystems, but also socio -economic activities related to recreation and ecotourism, as well as the life and well -being of thousands of people. The data is alarming: the last report of the IPCC warns that between 2017-2022, Chile had increased its population exposed to fire from 16 to 25 percent, compared to the period between 2001 and 2004.

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