Article author:
Reuters
Miguel Lo Bianco and Claudia Martini
Rosario — Grassland fires near critical South American river deltas pose serious danger to nearby wetland ecosystems and human health environmental leaders say. It's been a year since the water levels of the once mighty Paraná River fell to its lowest level in decades.
Wildfires around Rosario's main river port, vital for transporting Argentina's massive grain crop, have lingered, exacerbated not only by civilians, but by this year's scant rainfall. It has sounded alarm bells among activists already concerned about the drought, highlighting its consequences: a warmer, drier climate.
"Synergies only make things worse," says Enrique Viale, one of Argentina's leading environmental lawyers.
The Paraná River, her second longest waterway in South America after the Amazon, had its lowest water level since 1944 last year, according to official data. This is due to several drought cycles as well as reduced precipitation in upstream Brazil. Its level remains very low.
A swirling haze caused by wildfires, many set by farmers preparing the land for new crops, began about 190 miles (300 km) south of Rosario early in the week. Reached Buenos Aires. The soot in the air sparked the anger of residents, and popular weather apps simply called for "smoke."
Thousands of people took to the streets of Rosario earlier this month to protest the fires and demand the enforcement of laws banning them.
"The vegetation around the delta has been badly damaged," said Roberto Rojas, the local director of emergency services.
He noted that some 28,000 hectares had already been burned before the recent fires, but the total land lost to the flames has reached 500,000 hectares in recent years.
"With the current climate, strong winds and no rain, we can only wait and see how this story ends," Rojas added.・Reporting by Lo Bianco and Claudia Martini; Writing by David Arile Garcia; Editing by Richard Chan)
