Justice imposes coercive measure for forest fire in Valverde
A court in Valverde province issued a coercive measure consisting of the payment of a one-million-peso financial guarantee against a citizen, who was caught in flagrante delicto while starting a fire on a farm dedicated to rice cultivation.
The arrest was made possible thanks to the surveillance, inspection, and oversight efforts carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in conjunction with the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA). These institutions maintain a constant deployment in the country’s rice-growing areas with the goal of eradicating agricultural practices that threaten the ecosystem.
Legal consequences for agricultural burning
The burning of stubble and rice straw is a strictly regulated activity due to the negative impact it generates on air quality and the well-being of communities surrounding crop fields. Authorities have emphasized that any violation of the General Law on Environment and Natural Resources (64-00) will be documented and referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to ensure due process.
Environmental protection cannot be limited to warnings alone. When our teams find a violation and there is evidence to support it, it is necessary to act within the framework of the law and place the case in the hands of the competent authorities. We will continue working to ensure that environmental regulations are respected.
Deysi Aquino, provincial director of the Environment in Valverde.
Strengthening environmental surveillance
Following this incident, the Ministry of Environment reaffirmed that it will continue to strengthen control operations in Valverde. These actions are being carried out in close coordination with the SENPA and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Defense of the Environment and Natural Resources.
- Inspection operations will continue in rice-growing areas.
- The regime of consequences will be maintained against those who violate environmental regulations.
- Authorities urge producers to adopt sustainable agricultural methods that do not compromise the natural environment.
The authorities’ commitment is to ensure that productive activities are carried out under the established legal parameters, always prioritizing public health and the preservation of the region’s natural resources.
