CIVICUS speaks with Mauro González, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Climate Science and Resilience, (CR)2, about fires that recently spread through Chile’s Valparaíso region.
(CR)2 is a research centre that brings together researchers from various disciplines in the natural and social sciences, and from the University of Chile, the University of Concepción, Universidad Austral de Chile and other academic institutions, to study the impacts of climate change on Chilean ecosystems and society.
What’s the reason for the increase in fires?
Over the past decade Chile has been experiencing fires of increasing size and severity. The area burned during the 2016-2017 season reached more than half a million hectares, 10 times more than the annual average. It was very similar in 2022-2023, and most recently, in February this year, we had catastrophic fires in Valparaiso. These were less extensive, but their impact was considerable because they occurred in urban-forest interface areas with a high population density.
Some of the factors that could explain this increase in fires are more favourable climatic conditions, such as heatwaves, and the increased susceptibility of vegetation, associated with the drought that Chile has experienced since 2010. In recent years we have observed the drying out, also known as browning, of sclerophyll forests, caused by the lack of water. This affects biodiversity, leads to loss of stored carbon and facilitates the spread of fires. Further, in south and central Chile, the extensive and homogeneous forest plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus radiata favour, under extreme weather conditions, the spread of large fires.
Humans are largely responsible for the origin of fires, as more than 95 per cent of these are provoked, either accidentally or intentionally. Intentionality has various motivations, which need to be understood sociologically and psychologically to address prevention adequately.
In what other ways is climate change affecting Chile?
The main impacts of climate change in Chile are visible in the increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storm surges, tornadoes, floods, fires and prolonged drought. Although we have historically faced floods, earthquakes and fires, drought represents a unique situation for Chile given its extent and intensity. Much of the country is being affected by drought, with many rural communities lacking adequate water supply and demanding solutions from the state.
Particularly in the semi-arid areas north of Santiago, communities are experiencing a critical lack of water, which affects their traditional activities. Many people have lost their water sources for crops and livestock, affecting their economic activities and livelihoods, and are beginning to migrate. The capital and other cities are also facing major problems in the supply of water for human consumption.
With the succession of extreme weather events, the community recognises climate change as an obvious reality. However, the need for the state to take responsibility and provide responses only arises in extreme situations, in contexts of catastrophe. Otherwise, communities seem to adapt or resist in one way or another.
What have been the impacts of the fires, and how has the government responded?
Large fires affect the productive sector, including agricultural and forestry companies, but also local communities and society in general. The biggest impacts of fires are the loss of life and the destruction of thousands of homes and livelihoods. Added to this are emotional, psychological and medical problems, as air pollution increases respiratory diseases. These are problems that have not yet been adequately assessed. In certain areas, there is constant smoke during the summer, which undoubtedly affects human health.
In addition, fires have a negative impact on biodiversity. They result in the loss of native forests, endangering many species with conservation problems. They also affect the viability of fulfilling our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality, as we are not increasing the vegetation cover that sequesters carbon. On the contrary, we are losing forests and releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Chilean state has gradually been confronting this problem and taking measures. In recent years, successive governments have come to understand more fully the impact of climate change, pushed forward legal initiatives such as the Framework Law on Climate Change, and made important changes to the institutional framework for disaster risk prevention, in which the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service plays a fundamental role. In addition, a Fire Law is currently being discussed in Congress that aims to strengthen prevention strategies and landscape management as a mitigation measure, particularly in wildland-urban interface areas.
What more should be done to prevent and control fires?
Although in Chile the budget for fire prevention and control has increased in recent years, it is important to note that even in global north countries with more equipment and budget, such as Australia, Canada and the USA, governments don’t manage to put out fires of the characteristics and under the weather conditions in which they currently occur. Prevention is therefore key, as is the configuration and management of the forest landscape.
In south and central Chile, where the existence of extensive monoculture tree plantations contributes to the spread of fire, the state has a key role to play in encouraging, through appropriate instruments, greater diversification of the landscape and the restoration of burned or degraded native forests.
In terms of human responsibility, we must be aware of the impact of our actions, whether accidental, negligent or intentional. Prevention is key, along with preparing communities to deal with fires, just as we do with earthquakes and tsunamis.
The responsibility of property owners is fundamental when it comes to prevention and landscape management. Landowners must take responsibility for their land, implementing, with the assistance of the Forest Service, appropriate mitigation measures such as fire breaks and fuel reduction, particularly if they border human communities. Land management should not solely be the responsibility of the state. Each person must contribute to maintaining their environment, and forestry companies must ensure their assets are properly managed so as not to affect neighbouring communities. Co-responsibility is a crucial element that should be reflected in future legislation to tackle wildfires.
Civic space in Chile is rated ‘narrowed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
Get in touch with (CR)2 through its website or Facebook page, and follow @CR2_uchile on Twitter.
