The Cultural Resources of the Arrayanes and Nahuel Huapí National Parks Run In "Imminent Danger"
A report from the National Audit Office revealed that sites such as the Limay Cemetery, which contains engraved rock motifs and an indigenous cemetery, are at risk. The private ones that have the exploitation of different tourist points do not comply with their obligations by contract. Both parks cover almost 712 thousand hectares and to cross them old vehicles are used that have between 250 and 350 thousand kilometers.
In the Nahuel Huapí and Arrayanes national parks "there are cultural resources under imminent danger". This was stated by the General Audit Office of the Nation (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) in a report detailing the case of the Limay Cemetery that "has recorded r, for its acronym in Spanish ock motifs, an indigenous cemetery with skeletons, ceramics and weapons", but its state of conservation is "Bad" and that puts them at risk.
The objective of the audit was to evaluate the work of the National Parks Administration (APN, for its acronym in Spanish) in the Natural Areas Conservation and Management program, from 2013 to the third quarter of 2014. For this purpose, the unit "managed a budget of $ 228 million for the first year and almost $ 300 million for the next."
But it was found that the Limay Cemetery was not the only critical place. It is joined by the El Trébol archaeological site, whose state of conservation is "regular", the Campanario I and II hills, López Bay, Villa Los Cohiues and the house built in 1937, of the Frias Lake section, "which are also at risk right now."
The APN is an autarkic entity of the National State that until 2015 depended on the Ministry of Tourism and that today it is part of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
The national parks Nahuel Huapí and Arrayanes have an area of 711,730 hectares and extend between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén. In order to cover this wide area, the auditing team detected that "not all sectionals have a vehicle that is suitable". The rolled ones that are used have "an important antiquity", since they have between 250 and 350 thousand kilometers.
As for the weapons that rangers must count on, for deterrence and security purposes, the Watchdog detected "weapons without proper registration", such as 9mm and 11.5mm pistols; Shotguns caliber 12/70, among others. Of the backgrounds of the intendancy of the National Park "there is no information on how they were acquired."
Concessions
The AGN evaluated the concession for the exploitation of Puerto Pañuelo and the Varadero, which includes visits, their reception, boarding and disembarkation and, in addition, the attention of commercial and private vessels.
On these, the report states that "the concessionaire does not provide any of the services contemplated as mooring, shelving, fuel sales and waste collection." among others. Nor does it have an intervention team to fire boats. In fact, it adds that "the fire control niches are out of service and without hoses."
To this we must that "none of the springs provided in the specifications, nor the effluent treatment plant, nor the fuel storage facility" were built, just to name a few defaults.
In case of power outage, "there is no other emergency alternative", not even generator set. The infirmary "is built and equipped but has no assigned staff."
The excursions from Puerto Pañuelo to Puerto Blest, Cantaros and Lago Frías are in charge of another private company that did not comply with the contract specifications.
The visit originated that "there is a lack of conservation and protection of the Puerto Blest cemetery, declared a cultural heritage, since the entrance is unrestricted". In addition, "neither a visitor center nor the housing of the sectional, the heliport or the infirmary was built".
Finally, the AGN notes that the forest trails in the Arrayanes National Park "are not adapted for people with disabilities due to the existence of continuous stairs."
