Consequences of Deforestation:
80% of the crops were lost in the Siria Valley

The population in the area known as El Liberal asserts that there has grown here a type of weed that is killing the cattle. Many associate it with the contamination of the soil.

"It is more and more difficult to grow anything. The crops have been greatly reduced. Before, a field could produce more than 2000 pounds of corn and now we have only dead plants. We finished planting in July and we probably will not earn enough from the crops to cover our costs," says Don Jesús Izaguirre, a farmer in the San Ignacio area of the Siria Valley.

The shortage of water caused by the clearing of the forests in the valley by a mine and lumber companies has had effects on the agriculture and the livestock.

Everyone who lives here is complaining. The population looks with sadness on the crops turning to dust for the lack of water and the livestock loosing weight, sickening and dying.

The Siales and Malaque rivers, the two principle rivers in the valley near San Ignacio, are now dry beds of dust and pebbles. The wells are dry and one must dig more to find precious water. The situation can be described in a single sentence: There is no water.

80% of the crops were lost
The farmers who grow corn in San Ignacio report that 80% of what they have planted this year is lost. There is not enough left to feed them.

"Before, we provided basic grains to the capital city and other areas of the country. We were practically a granary. But now all we have left is to look at our dead crops. Without water there is not life," says Roger Escobar, president of the Environmental Committee of Siria Valley.
In the same way, Don Jesús Izaguirre explains that the problems with the crops are not just his. He says that the majority of the small and mid-sized farms have the same problems.

"Almost all the farmers are like us, because here the majority of people are farmers. Sometimes we would like to change what we grow, maybe grow annual or permanent crops, but the problem would be the same-there isn't any water," he adds.

For his part, Don Juan Ordóñez, another farmer in the area, asserts that the lack of water is terrible. Other problems have begun as well: there are crop blight and weeds that plague the fields.

"There are more types of blight-it seems like the conditions are perfect for it. And new kinds of weeds are appearing, types we've never had before. All of a sudden the environment has changed. There are climate changes and the weeds flourish in the dry conditions. We have seen all this happen in a couple years," he says.

The farmers resist discontent, but they add that they have little hope of getting anything from their crops. Now their farms cannot support their families.
"Before we had water here. The water was abundant in the valley and we never had problems with it. But now everything has changed and we are in a very difficult situation," added Ordóñez.
They turn to other things

Don Alonso Izaguirre is the father of two children and he has supported them with by farming grains and beans. But now that he is losing his crops, he has had to find alternative ways to take care of his family. Now he operates a small corn mill, but this business does not generate much income.

Don Alonso explained that in the past he planted sesame seeds, but now with the dry climate and lack of water it is impossible to do so. He adds that he divided his land into five parts so that he could plant in one while harvesting in another, with the idea of never being without income.
"Now I have a grain mill to earn a living, because the land does not give much. But note that where the housewives used to bring two measures to grind, they now bring one, and they are using corn that is not yet ready. This is a crisis. Before the people only took out the corn when it was dry, when it was ready," commented Izaguirre.

The Death of the Cattle
According to the residents, the cattle have recently become sick and are dying in the area of El Liberal. They still do not know what is causing the deaths, but the people attribute it to something the animals ate.

"The cattle have been having problems. A weed has developed that is making them die. This weed wasn't here before. Here we believe the contamination in the soil is causing it to grow, and the animals eat it and get sick and die. It is a plant similar to mallow and it has a purple blossom," explained Izaguirre.

According to our information, personnel from the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock took samples of the blood and brain of an animal that died to try to find out what is causing the illness.
"They said that other areas had the same experience. They told us it was safe to eat these animals, but I am afraid to," Izaguirre said.

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