"This situation, if caused deliberately, once again shows the lack of sensitivity to our natural environment that some individuals have, putting human lives at risk," the entity said in a statement.
Producers recalled that chestnut trees are not just an economic resource, but also the basis for a habitat of great interest that "should not be threatened by man," as it will suffer permanent phytosanitary issues.
In this sense, the Board has reported that the fires have caused the loss of production and irreversible damage to centennial chestnuts, which are part of an irreplaceable heritage of the areas affected.
Consequently, the Chestnut Board has called for "sanity and wisdom" before making use of fire without adequate preventive means and has asked the public to collaborate with the security forces in the investigation of the causes and the search for the culprits of these catastrophes.
The entity has also explained that well-managed chestnut groves don't usually suffer such intense and irreversible damages in case of fire as those that have been abandoned, and they can also be an important source of income for their owners.
Source: EFE
