Chili. At least 130 dead, more than 50,000 hectares burned and 7,000 homes destroyed. Years of drought, the climate crisis, poor management of its forests, plantation and population close to the forest masses, without any protection, were a few weeks ago triggering a catastrophe that could be similar in Spain, where many of these conditions are repeated , and against which, according to forestry experts and researchers, we are not preparing for the summer. The lack of forest maintenance, not applying controlled fire techniques, prioritizing reforestation instead of planning, misinformation or the lack of evacuation plans for fires are deficits that they consider must be addressed now for the next campaign. that they foresee complicated.
In 2023 it was a rainy spring that saved the summer, in the words of forestry researchers, who remember that nothing guarantees that it will happen again. At the moment, 54% more hectares burned in January than the average for the last 10 years. In a single day that month, 26 fires were detected in Asturias and shortly after, residents of the El Saler de València natural park were evacuated due to the proximity of the flames.
A recent scientific report from Office C of the Congress of Deputies indicates that, in 15 years, there are one million more forest hectares in the territory, but also remember that in 2022 Spain was the EU state with the most burned area: 315,705 ha. (the equivalent of all of Álava).
What is being done and what should be done a few months before a possible hellish summer? Some experts answer these questions.
