replace them with the natural vegetation of each region which , curiously enough , is adapted to live after fires , not to generate them .
Last but not least , the ecological balance of the forest systems must be resolutely worked on . An overgrazed forest , with hunting or livestock grazing loads above what is bearable , will destroy the noblest species of scrub and will encourage the preeminence of xerophytic species , which are much more flammable and dangerous during a fire . In the absence of large predators , it is the human hand that must achieve these balances . Public forests should be a living example of intelligent forest management and not a bargaining chip for short-term policies or to satisfy the blackmail of local groups demanding the privative use of common goods . And beware of the temptation to deforest the forests when European money arrives . Clearing all the mature scrub of a forest " as done " will only succeed in a few years in creating an impenetrable jungle with a continuity of fuel from the ground to the crowns , increasing the danger of fires and generating a problem where there was none before .
In short , as we have seen , an environmental problem with serious social implications has deep roots in inadequate political decisions . This is where pressure must be exerted to put an end to fires once and for all . Forest fires are put out , or rather should be put out , also from San Telmo .
92 OTWO 46 / MAY 2023