Salta: Land with Severe Environmental Damage, Lack of Forestry Investment and a Government That Does Not Control
<p style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">According to the Audit of Salta concessionaires in charge of "exploitation" and "mobilization of unexplored riches" of two tax lots, did not invest in the forest as was agreed by contract. To this is added that people who live and work these lots are endangering natural resources. The Salta Government did not make any environmental audits.</span></p> <div> </div>
The General Audit of produced a report at the request of the local Chamber of Deputies on the work of the companies in charge of the exploitation of tax lots 35 and 36 in the department of Anta. It said the company "did not carry out the investments planned for forestation". People who live and work in those lands generate severe environmental damage and, meanwhile, the Provincial Government didn’t perform the "periodic environmental controls."
The Company Salta Forestal was established in December 1974 to "fully exploit 50-year-forests-in two tax lots located in the department of Anta, ensuring rational use of natural resources, generating jobs and unexplored wealth mobilization." In 1999 the company was privatized by a National and International Tender, "in order to grant the right to work", being awarded to the firm Ecodesarrollo SA, which in 2003 gave up some of their rights and obligations to Cevera Agropecuaria SA.
According to the Terms and Conditions, "environmental audits should be carried out, at least every three years." From the results obtained "it depended on the continuation or not of the concession." The report of the Salta Audit, approved in May this year, confirmed that "it was not controlled" during the audit period (2001-2008). Meanwhile, the Enforcement Authority (Ministry of Economy of Salta) did not fulfill its role of supervising the execution of the tasks of control and there was no evidence that that would require compliance with the obligations of companies.
Potential economic damage to the State. The auditors were witnesses on the grounds that "the relationship between passengers (persons under contract occupancies and exploited property) and dealers is highly contentious" they even started the first legal action. Consequently, tenants "are still doing their breeding and feeding cattle using traditional methods 'grazing' that generate severe environmental damage", for example, they affect "sensitive species such as quebracho colorado", whose renewal "requires a period of 8 to 10 years. "The watchdog warned that "if this situation goes on, the future development of the enterprise can be ruined causing serious economic damage to the heritage of the provincial government."
The AGP of Salta stated that "the companies did not make the investments planned for forestation" and furthermore, both companies "made investments in excess in some areas while, in others, had made none or lesser extent without changing the full amount of their loans." It is important to note here that these changes "were made without the authorization of the province," contrary to brand the concession contract.
The auditors also reported that dealers "did not perform hydraulic works aimed at maximizing the utilization of excess rainwater, and improved infrastructure for livestock and irrigation use." On this point, the watchdog reported back that "the Enforcement Authority gave no documentation regarding the obligation to exercise control and enforce the implementation of these works by the companies," i.e., turned to fail in its supervisory role.
In the inspection carried out by the audit there is "no evidence to verify compliance by licensees of their obligations regarding the development of ecotourism" or "for conducting activities related to crafts" in the north, or "with the use of non-conventional energy" in the southern part of the land.