Climate Change Disaster driven by deforestation hits the province of Salta in Argentina
Salta, a province in the North-West of Argentina, covering part of the Chaco plain, the Yunga rainforest and the Andes mountains, has traditionally been firmly under the grip of agribusiness. In this region, home to many of Argentina’s surving indigenous communities that still depend on these ecosystems, traditional monocultures included cotton and sugar cane, dominated by dictatorship related families.
However, deforestation has accelerated even further with the introduction of Monsanto’s RoundupReady soy from 1996, that according to the provincial parliament already covers 50% of the cultivated area. A new wave of destruction is now being staged by local politicians and international agribusiness alike.
Please write now to the Supreme Court of Argentina to stop deforestation in Salta
Deforestation has so far caused a continued increase in malnutrition, deaths caused by hunger, overcrowding in urban slums and the proliferation of poverty related diseases. The conversion of land use has also led to severe floods and droughts, consequences of climate change that are becoming increasingly noticeable. This is now shown by the flooding disaster in the town of Tartagal, with many houses and crops destroyed.
Due to a deforestation scandal involving the Salta Provincial government selling off a natural reserve, a new National Forest Act was developed at national level in Argentina, and was agreed upon by the end of 2007. This law stipulated that every region had to make its own land use planning scheme (“Land Use Act”) within one year. Therefore, over 2008 no deforestation permits could be granted by Provincial governments, and this had to be the year of forest conservation of Argentina. But things turned out differently.
In Salta, the National Forest Act was received by outrage on the part of the soy and sugar cane barons, that at the same time hold political power and the media. Over the last 3 months of 2007, just before the National Forest Act was approved, a record number of deforestation permits were submitted and approved. The total surface for which deforestation permits were applied for in 2007 in Salta, was nearly half a million hectares.
Oscar Delgado, of the human rights organisation CAPOMA, notes that “the provincial government has completely ignored all environmental studies and recommendations made by the competent institutions, when approving the land use planning act based on the National Forest Act in December 2008”. Delgado adds that “the governor, with his statements on the recent floodings, is leaving the rural population exposed to these hazards, while sacrificing our future with these extreme climatic conditions”.
The development process of Salta’s Land Use Act, requiring amongst others local consultations, was a farce. The required consultations were often announced only in the newspapers, whereas many people cannot read or do not have the money to buy the newspaper, or live in areas where it is not distributed. Often, the consultation would be held very far from the community.
The new Land Use Act has been completely manipulated by corporate power, as now for the first time in Salta, deforestation would be allowed on land that has a slope of more than 5%, as one amendment increases the limit to 15%. In addition, deforestation permits are extended by three more years, and the forest conservation in the river basins and and river banks are considerably reduced.
This ends up promoting further expansion of the agricultural frontier further endangering the biodiversity of the province and with it the already threatened survival of small communities living in the forests, both indigenous and ‘criollo’.
The new Land Use Act will facilitate a yet unknown number of hectares more to be deforested. Estimates vary between 1,5 to 4 million hectares. This means that the little that is left of the dry forest of Salta's Chaco plains, will be replaced by soy and jatropha. (Jatropha is talked about a lot, but has not yet been authorised yet in Argentina).
Equally, the required Environmental Impact Assessment, were often found to be a complete fraud. Andrew Leake of a church based NGO in Salta (ASOCIANA), comments that some of the studies came to the ridiculous conclusion that deforestation will actually increase biodiversity. Also, he found that a study presented for one area was simply a photocopy of the one made for another area, 250 kilometres to the south. This was reported to the Provincial government, but little was done.
The affected communities say that "the complicity of political and corporate power can continue doing business with our natural resources. But may it be clear to them that we will continue our fight to defend our families, our land and our forest and that they will never see us on our knees and even less so, defeated. "
In order to immediately halt deforestations, 18 indigenous communities presented a demand to the Supreme Court of Argentina by the end of last year. These permits were given out by the Government of Salta headed by Juan Carlos Romero, just before the new National Forest Act was approved in December 2007, for no less than 807.000 hectares in 4 districts of Salta (San Martín, Orán, Rivadavia and Santa Victoria).
The Supreme Court unanimously acknowledged this demand on 31 of December with an immediate ban on these deforestations, and planned a public consultation meeting on 18 of February 2009.
Please write urgently to the judges of the Supreme Court, to demand that whatever action they take, they take into account the seriousness of the situation regarding the consequences of climate change, the threats to the survival of the rural population and biodiversity, the expansion of the agricultural frontier, and the collateral damage related to GM monocultures like soy. Please write before the 18th of February.
You will find the letter in Spanish, and the contact details, below. Further down you will find an English translation of the letter.
CONTACTS AT THE SUPREME COURT OF ARGENTINA
Ministros de la Corte Suprema Argentina
Presidente
Dr. Ricardo Luis Lorenzetti
privada01@csjn.gov.ar
Vicepresidenta
Dra. Elena I. Highton de Nolasco
v09@csjn.gov.ar
Dr. Carlos S. Fayt
magrecco@csjn.gov.ar
Dr. Enrique Santiago Petracchi
apeirano@csjn.gov.ar
Dr. Juan Carlos Maqueda
jmaqueda@csjn.gov.ar
Dr. E. Raúl Zaffaroni
raulzaffaroni@csjn.gov.ar
Dr. Carmen M. Argibay
privadav07@csjn.gov.ar
Prensa: prensa@csjn.gov.ar
CARTA
Estimado Sr. Presidente , Dr. Ricardo Luis Lorenzetti
Estimada Sra.Vicepresidenta, Dra. Elena I. Highton de Nolasco
Estimado Dr. Carlos S. Fayt
Estimado Dr. Enrique Santiago Petracchi
Estimado Dr. Juan Carlos Maqueda
Estimado Dr. E. Raúl Zaffaroni
Estimada Dr. Carmen M. Argibay
Con esta carta quiero mostrar mi enérgico apoyo a las principales demandas de las comunidades indígenas, campesinas y organizaciones de la Provincia de Salta, Argentina, presentadas a la Corte Suprema con el objetivo de anular los permisos para desmontes aprobados en el año 2007 en su provincia. La conversión del uso de las tierras tiene consecuencias gravísimas.
Lo bosques constituyen una defensa imprescindible ante extremos climáticos como inundaciones y sequías agudas. Es así que debido a las lluvias del 9 de febrero 2009, se ha producido el desborde del río, el aluvión, las inundaciones, la destrucción de viviendas y la lamentable pérdida de vidas humanas. Los vecinos de la ciudad de Tartagal denuncian que “no se trató solo de una catástrofe natural, sino que atribuyen el desastre al desmonte” (10-2-2009 Diario Página 12). Tan sólo inicialmente se calcula que 10.000 personas han sido afectadas. El cambio climático ya es una realidad en la provincia de Salta, como consecuencia inmediata de la irresponsable actuación del poder político empresarial. En un reportaje emitido por el canal de TV TN, una damnificada por el alud declaró: “Nosotros somos ignorantes pero sabemos que no fue 'la mano de Dios' ni la Pacha Mama como dijo el señor Intendente, sino la mano del hombre y la tala ilegal”.
En este sentido, me preocupa seriamente la nueva Ley de Ordenamiento Territorial de Bosques Nativos, aprobada en diciembre 2008 en la provincia de Salta. Esta ley, en vez de proteger los bosques nativos, impulsa la expansión de la frontera agrícola y pone en peligro las comunidades indígenas y campesinas que viven del monte, la biodiversidad de la provincia de Salta, donde habitan osos hormigueros, pumas, pekari, y una inmensa cantidad y variedad de pájaros. Cinco artículos principales de esta ley borran toda posibilidad de preservación de los bosques, al planificar la eliminación de una superficie de por lo menos 5.000.000 hectáreas. Esta superficie es lo que queda del bosque seco de llanura en pie. Pretenden sustituirlo con soja transgénica (con todos los daños colaterales adicionales que esto implica, también de plena actualidad en el país) y jatrofa (cuya introducción y cultivo aún no está oficialmente autorizado en el país). Esta ley que se quiere imponer es antidemocrática y anticonstitucional.
El futuro y sustento de las comunidades rurales indígenas y criollos de esta zona depende de los bosques, que le dan carácter propio a esta región de Argentina. En estrecha relación con los desmontes, crecen los desalojos y con ellos la desnutrición, las muertes por hambre, el hacinamiento en las villas miseria en los cordones urbanos y la proliferación de enfermedades derivadas de la pobreza.
Frente a la urgente situación de devastación ambiental del monte chaqueño y la aniquilación del futuro de sus pueblos y el cambio climático a la vista, las autoridades competentes deben actuar para frenar inmediatamente los continuos desmontes.
Señores jueces, sus decisiones tendrán una importancia global. Por favor, a la hora de efectuar sus resoluciones tenga a bien considerar los siguientes aspectos, todos ellos vitales para la integridad de miles de familias y comunidades indígenas y para la conservación de la biodiversidad y los bosques:
-El avance de la frontera agrícola y la deforestación deben detenerse
-Los bosques y hábitats naturales deben ser progtegidos desde este momento y para el futuro, al constituir estos la fuente de recursos para los pobladores rurales
-Los derechos y la historia de los pueblos originarios debe ser reconocida y se posibilitada la permanencia de los pobladores en su territorio
-Lo dañado debe ser en la medida de lo posible recompueto, y debe ser tenido en cuenta que a partir de cierto punto de destrucción los ecosistemas naturales ya no se pueden volver a recomponer
- El Ordenamiento Territorial como fue aprobado por la Provincia de Salta debe ser anulado, y reelaborado con la participación efectiva de los pobladores ancestrales y generacionales de la región, tanto en cuanto al propio ordenamiento como en el manejo del territorio provincial y la regularización de los títulos de tierra
No permita que los intereses de los agronegocios, a su vez involucrados en las decisiones políticas, se impongan sobre los de la población. Escuche y acompañe a los pobladores quienes se dirigieron así al Nuevo Diario de Salta (14-12-2008): “vamos a seguir nuestra lucha en defensa de nuestras familias de nuestra tierra y nuestro monte y nunca nos van a ver de rodillas y menos vencidos”.
Esperando que se haga eco de esta petición en el momento oportuno, muchas gracias por adelantado y un muy atento saludo,
TRANSLATION:
Dear Sr. Presidente , Dr. Ricardo Luis Lorenzetti
Dear Sra.Vicepresidenta, Dra. Elena I. Highton de Nolasco
Dear Dr. Carlos S. Fayt
Dear Dr. Enrique Santiago Petracchi
Dear Dr. Juan Carlos Maqueda
Dear Dr. E. Raúl Zaffaroni
Dear Dr. Carmen M. Argibay
By sending you this letter I want to show my strong support to the demands from the indigenous and peasant communities and from the organisations in the Salta Province, in Argentina. Their demands have been presented at the Supreme Court with the objective of cancelling the permits for the approved deforestation in 2007 in their province. The land use change that starts with deforestation has terrible consequences.
Forests are an essential defence to overcome climate extreme situations such as floods and permanent droughts. After the rains of the 9th February 2009, the river overflowed and there have been floods, house destruction and human life losses. The neighbours from the city of Tartagal denounce that it was not only a natural catastrophe, but they identified deforestation as the main cause of the disaster (10-2-2009 Diario Página 12). At least 10.000 people have been affected. Climate change is already a reality en the Salta province, as a result of an irresponsible acting of the business political power. In a reportage shown by the TV TN channel, an affected woman pointed out: ‘We are illiterate people but we know that it was not ‘God’s will’ nor the Pacha Mama’s, as the Mayor said, but it has been caused by men and by illegal logging’.
In this sense, I am seriously worried about the new Law of Land Demarcation in Native Forests, approved in December 2008 in the Salta Province. Instead of protecting native forests, this law is pushing for the expansion of the agriculture. It is also jeopardising the indigenous and peasant communities who live from the forest, and from the biodiversity of the Salta province. In those forests, anteaters, pumas, pekaris and a great variety of birds can also be found. Five articles in that law delete any possibility of preservation of forests. A surface of at least 5.000.000 ha is planned to be devastated. This surface is what remains left from the dry woodlands.
Worse, the forest is planned to be covered by GM soy (with all the non wanted side effects that this implies currently in the country) and by jatropha (whose cultivation has no official permits yet in this country). Therefore, this law is deeply undemocratic and anti-constitutional.
The future and the living of indigenous rural communities from this area depend on forest, which are a singular element of this Argentinean region. Deforestation has so far caused a continued increase of evictions, an increase in malnutrition, deaths caused by hunger, overcrowding in urban slums and the proliferation of poverty related diseases..
Regarding the urgent situations of climate change, environmental devastation and annihilation of the future of the villages, the competent authorities must act to immediately stop deforestation.
Mr magistrates, your decisions will have a global relevance. When deciding, take into account the following aspects, please. All of them are vital aspects to preserve the integrity of thousand of families and indigenous communities as well as to preserve biodiversity and forests:
- The advance of the agricultural border and deforestation must stop.
- Forests and natural habitats must be protected for the future so these are the source of recourses for the rural inhabitants.
- Rights and history of native peoples must be recognised. Also their right to remain in their territory must be recognised.
- All damage in the ecosystems must be fixed as much as possible and irreversibility in affecting natural ecosystems must be taken into account.
- The current Land Demarcation approved by the Salta province must be revoked. It’s important to develop an effective participation of the native inhabitants of the region. They should be involved not only in deciding a new Land Demarcation but also in the territorial management and in the regulation of the land titles.
It shouldn’t be allowed that the interests of agrobusiness – involved in political decision-making, get imposed over people. It’s important to listen the native people who stated in the Nuevo Diario de Salta (14-12-2008): ‘We will keep on going with our struggle. Defending our families, our land and our forest. We will never be on our knees nor defeated’.
Hoping this petition will receive your attention,
Thank you very much,
Kind regards,
