Page 12 - aruba-today-20181110

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 10 November 2018
Argentina's newest national park protects vital wetlands

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO the park. But the low, om-
CIERVO DE LOS PANTANOS nipresent hum of cars and
NATIONAL PARK, Argentina even train horns seems dis-
(AP) — Just an hour's drive tant, often drowned out
from one of South Ameri- by the constant calling of
ca's most populous cities, a birds.
sprawling wetland of bright "We just heard a southern
green marshes and dark la- screamer," park ranger
goons stretches far into the Agustin Mezzabotta said
horizon. during a recent trek after
The until-now little-known crossing a long wooden
area, home to a wide footbridge over swamps to
range of birds, fish and reach a lagoon.
other wildlife, has become This "is a space where peo-
Argentina's newest nation- ple can connect with na-
al park in a victory for na- ture, connect with their five
ture preservation at a time senses, observe, smell the
when the country is facing grass, hear the birds," he
an economic crisis and said. Visitors might not be
governments worldwide blown away by monumen-
are cutting back funding tal glaciers, waterfalls or
for parks and environmen- even the large animals of
tal programs. other Argentine parks. But
Conservationists say cre- the wetlands are ideal for
ation of the Ciervo de los In this Oct. 18, 2018 photo, a wooden walk way stands at the "Ciervo de los Pantanos" National birdwatchers and visitors
Pantanos (Marsh Deer) Na- Park near Buenos Aires, Argentina. can catch glimpses of ani-
tional Park out of two na- Associated Press mals such as wildcats and
ture preserves will increase foxes. The park is named
resources to protect the live, will come here," said the capital shared a picnic is taking over our flora and for the marsh deer, a vul-
more than 5,500 hectares Jeronimo Valle, the park's and played a pickup game fauna," she said. "If it wasn't nerable species found in
(20 square miles) from real director. of soccer on a meadow for this," she said gesturing a few other parts of South
estate development and "It's important to have a before trekking along the to the lush vegetation sur- America that is known for its
other threats while creating direct contact with these park's trails. rounding her, "we wouldn't webbed hooves that allow
an open-air classroom for ecosystems so that we stop Fifteen-year-old Martina be here." it to cross swamps smoothly
students in the Buenos Aires seeing them as unfertile Suarez said the park was At about 40 miles (70 kilo- where other animals would
metropolitan area. ... lands, and instead see a reminder of what needs meters) from Buenos Aires, easily sink.
"The main factor here is them for what they are: to be saved from develop- it's the closest national park "So it's important to have
environmental education lands that must be pre- ment. to the Argentine capital. parks that are accessible to
... because every school served." "Our natural resources will The entrance is just off the the public, such as this one
from (greater) Buenos Ai- A group of students who end if we continue on this Pan-American Highway in Argentina as it will hope-
res, where 14 million people arrived from the outskirts of path because urbanization and a railway cuts through fully be very well visited."q

Brazil police arrest ex-meatpacking executive in graft probe

Associated Press three more. They were also accused Batista of with-
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian executing dozens of search holding information and re-
police on Friday arrested warrants. voked his deal.
a former chairman of the JBS is one of the compa- "Joesley Batista is a col-
world's largest meatpacker nies at the center of Bra- laborator with the justice
whose testimony was cen- zil's sprawling corruption system," Batista's lawyer,
tral to allegations of corrup- investigation, known as Andre Callegari, said in a
tion against the president. Operation Car Wash, in statement. "Therefore, the
Former JBS chairman Joes- which investigators have request for his arrest causes
ley Batista was arrested Fri- determined that compa- bewilderment in the con-
day, as was Ricardo Saud, nies paid billions of dollars text of an investigation in
a former executive at the in bribes and kickbacks to which he has already given
holding company that politicians in order to se- more than one deposition
controls JBS, according cure political favors and as a cooperating witness
to the public relations firm In this Nov. 28, 2017 file photo, Joesley Batista, JBS meat-pack- public contracts. Several and handed over innumer-
that represents the meat- ing company executive, testifies at a Senate Parliamentary JBS executives have con- able corroborating docu-
packer. Antonio Andrade, Commission of Inquiry, in Brasilia, Brazil. fessed to the company's in- ments."
the vice governor of Minas Associated Press volvement in exchange for In a statement, Andrade's
Gerais state and a former plea bargain deals, includ- press office said that he
agriculture minister, was tives paid bribes to civil ser- some targets of the inves- ing providing evidence had cooperated with po-
also arrested, his press of- vants and politicians linked tigation tried to throw the that underpinned charges lice and his lawyers would
fice said. to the Agriculture Ministry probe off course even levelled against President respond once they had
Police said in a statement in exchange for favorable though they were ostensi- Michel Temer. Temer de- seen the details of the in-
that the arrests were part decisions and regulation bly cooperating. nies wrongdoing, and Con- vestigation. Representa-
of an investigation into a that helped JBS eliminate Police said they had arrest- gress twice voted to spare tives for Saud did not im-
graft scheme that dates to competition. Police said ed 16 people in all Friday, him trial while he is in office. mediately respond to a re-
2014-2015 in which execu- that there is evidence that and they are still seeking But prosecutors have since quest for comment.q