–
The meager official afforestation campaigns that have been carried out in the last decades in the province have been decisive so that the oases located in the Andean and Pre-Andean valleys lack the splendor that they should have today. The forestry policy that has been promoted since the beginning of this century has not achieved a transformation according to the needs of San Juan to recreate green areas to gain ground from an implacable desert that advances as soon as it finds the right conditions such as those provided by logging. massive or neglect in the conservation and maintenance of the trees, both those that have been planted by man and those that are indigenous. The irrigation problem that has arisen recently should not be an excuse for deforestation, since there have always been various alternatives to maintain the trees, and it is inadmissible that they be abandoned for this reason by letting them dry out.
Official task
The State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development, through its Forestry area, is the specific body responsible for planning official campaigns that have so far failed to stand out with respect to the number of specimens that the province needs or in the promotion of forestry awareness that needs to be instilled in all areas, which is essential for forestry to advance in all areas.
Beyond the fact that the official body is currently engaged in the task of bidding for the purchase, from local nurseries, of a total of 10,000 trees to be planted in Greater San Juan, to which is added the preparation of a Master Management Plan of urban trees that includes an inventory of trees and a survey of the irrigation system in five departments, and the development of a new law of public trees, as reported by the owner of the area, Raúl Tello, it is clearly perceptible that all these actions they are not enough to reverse a situation that tends to worsen as the green surface of the valleys is progressively reducing.
It is enough to verify that despite the prohibitions, there is logging everywhere, both public and private trees, in urban and rural areas.
Afforestation campaign
According to estimates, to carry out a true afforestation campaign, at least 1 million specimens should be considered, and for this it would be necessary to have provincial and municipal nurseries in full production in order to provide suitable varieties for the province such as chañar , logging, black carob, calden and tar. Among the bushes are the jarilla, the myrtle, the molle, broom and the cotoneaster.
The need to carefully plan a forest campaign goes beyond considering only urban trees. It is necessary to take the entire province as a unit and establish collaboration agreements with agrotechnical schools, in the border area, and other institutions linked to environmental conservation, so that students and members of these institutions participate actively, in their respective Task zones of planting various species that fit each location. We must also take into account the places where to focus these campaigns, opting for wetland areas, located in the departments of Sarmiento and Zonda, or arid areas located in the vicinity of urban centers.
The monitoring of new afforestation is essential to guarantee success and in this we must not forget the fertilization tasks of each plant.
Need for more green surface
It is a fact that San Juan needs a greater green area, both to promote tourist activity and to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants, which includes the recovery of the soils to use them for crops or so that the desert does not continue to advance. relentlessly. To the wild part, which by itself has a natural beauty, it is necessary to oppose more green surfaces, which is what many people look for to recreate their spirit.
A serious afforestation plan should be set as a goal, at least, the year 2022 and a series of actions aimed at having the necessary trees, an adequate distribution and a planning of the appropriate places that contemplate irrigation possibilities, so that the projects do not fail. In this sense, future plans for greater afforestation are important, but it is also important to start executing them in previous stages that allow the existing trees to be recovered.
By Alfredo Correa
CUYO’S DIARY
–
