The Guild Association of Small and Medium-Sized Timber Industry Industrials expresses its concern regarding the forest fire prevention bill (Bulletin No. 16335-14), approved on January 27, 2026, by the Senate with 34 votes in favor and which now proceeds to its third legislative stage in the Chamber of Deputies.

After more than two years of legislative processing, the bill was passed amid the emergency caused by the fires affecting the Ñuble and Biobío regions. However, PymeMad warns that the initiative maintains a focus centered on responding to already declared fires, without addressing in necessary depth the causes that originate the disasters, despite the fact that the majority of these have human origins.

"Legislating during an emergency is not healthy," states Michel Esquerré, National President of PymeMad. "We have been asking for years to participate in the construction of forestry policies. Prevention is done with time, not with urgency."

It is especially concerning that the obligations and penalties—which can reach up to 3,000 UTM for very serious infractions—fall heavily on small and medium-sized forest owners, many of whom are recurrent victims of the fires themselves. Meanwhile, the bill does not strengthen the criminal prosecution of those responsible nor provide greater resources to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Furthermore, preventive obligations will depend on regulations that have a deadline of up to one year to be issued.

We call on the deputies to improve the legal framework, incorporating effective prevention, adequate resources, and the technical knowledge of those of us who work in the territory. Legislation must be built with those who know the forest, not imposed upon those who care for it.

PymeMad reaffirms its commitment to a forestry policy that prioritizes real prevention, effective co-responsibility, and the strengthening of SMEs as fundamental actors in the sector.