According to BioBioChile, the Los Ríos Prosecutor's Office is seeking 8 years in prison for a businessman accused of cutting down trees without authorization and filling in a wetland in the Yeco area of Mariquina municipality. This is Chile's first oral trial under the law that criminalizes environmental damage.
The affected wetland is near the Lingue River. A wetland is an ecosystem with soils that are flooded or saturated with water, either permanently or temporarily. The outlet does not specify how many trees were cut down or how many hectares were filled in.
The law being applied is the Economic and Environmental Crimes Act, enacted in 2023. Its aim is to toughen penalties for those who damage the natural environment. In addition to prison time, the businessman faces a fine of $1,700 million for environmental damage.
The trial began last week. The defense challenged the application of the law and argued that an attempt is being made to exaggerate the extent of the damage. The Public Prosecutor's Office, meanwhile, says the law seeks to criminally prosecute environmental damage.
The region's lawmakers agree on the value of the legislation. Broad Front Deputy Matías Fernández said the law sends a "clear signal" to end impunity for environmental crimes and will help deter them.
Republican Deputy Leandro Kunstmann stressed that the law will help prevent damage to the natural environment through compliance with the country's laws.
Community organizations in Los Ríos expressed the same position. Manuel Rojo, a representative of Colectivo Viento Sur, said the law sets a precedent by allowing those who cause environmental damage to be tried.
Ornela De Pablo, spokesperson for the Río San Pedro sin Salmoneras movement, focused on prevention. She warned that damage to these ecosystems "can be serious or even impossible to reverse".
The court is expected to announce its verdict this Thursday. It will then determine whether the businessman is guilty or innocent. The outlet does not report his name.
