Patagonia's Ancient Forests Ablaze as Austerity Cuts Hamper Fire Response

By Leila Miller

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 30 (Reuters) — Raging wildfires in Argentine Patagonia have consumed a vast swath of land exceeding twice the area of the capital, igniting fierce debate over President Javier Milei's "chainsaw" austerity program, which critics say has gutted vital disaster prevention resources.

The government announced Thursday it would declare an economic emergency across four southern provinces—Chubut, Rio Negro, Neuquen, and La Pampa—to expedite federal aid. The move comes as firefighters, battling high winds and temperatures, struggle to contain blazes that have now encroached upon Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO site renowned for its ancient alerce trees, some over 3,600 years old.

While summer fires are not uncommon in the region, the scale and intensity of this season's outbreaks have alarmed experts. The inferno, concentrated in Chubut province, has already blackened more than 110,000 acres (44,515 hectares) since December, surpassing the total area burned in the previous summer, according to Greenpeace.

Background & Impact: The crisis has cast a harsh spotlight on Milei's aggressive fiscal tightening. Analysis by the local NGO FARN reveals the 2024 budget slashed real-term funding for the National Fire Management Service by 71%. Environmental groups have long warned that such cuts would leave the country vulnerable.

"These are not acts of God; they are politically manufactured disasters," said Ariel Slipak, an economist with FARN. "The government prioritized a balanced budget 'at all costs,' knowingly dismantling our capacity to respond to entirely predictable seasonal threats."

In response to the escalating disaster, the Ministry of Security pledged approximately $69 million for firefighting efforts. However, critics argue this is a reactive measure that fails to address systemic underfunding of prevention.

The controversy is further inflamed by Milei's dismissive stance on climate science, which he has previously labeled a "socialist lie." His administration has also signaled a potential withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, following the path of his political ally, former U.S. President Donald Trump.

"To deny the role of climate change in intensifying these fires is an irresponsible gamble with our natural heritage and people's safety," said Hernan Giardini of Greenpeace Argentina. "The bill for this negligence is being paid by our forests and communities."

Voices from the Ground:

• Carlos Mendez, 58, Rancher (Esquel, Chubut): "We've lost pastures it took generations to cultivate. The fire crews are heroes, but they're fighting with one hand tied behind their back. Where was the aerial support earlier? The cuts have real consequences out here."

• Dr. Elena Vargas, Environmental Policy Professor (University of Buenos Aires): "This is a tragic case study in policy short-sightedness. Protecting ancient ecosystems like Los Alerces requires sustained investment, not last-minute emergency declarations after the fact. The economic logic of austerity collapses when faced with ecological catastrophe."

• Miguel Soto, 42, Business Owner (Bariloche, Rio Negro): "Enough with the excuses from both sides! Yes, the funding cuts are insane, but where's the local planning? We keep building into fire-prone areas. Everyone points fingers, but no one wants to pay for proper land management or listen to the science."

• Ana Silva, 34, Climate Activist (Buenos Aires): "Milei's government is committing ecocide. Calling climate change a 'lie' while ancient trees that predate Christ burn is not just ideology; it's criminal negligence. They are sacrificing our future on the altar of a fanatical economic dogma."

(Reporting by Leila Miller; Editing by Cassandra Garrison and Michael Perry)