Max Bauer: “Those who act are not those who talk”!
Max Bauer denounces the failure of political ecology against forest fires and defends the role of local actors.
While France faced devastating fires, Max Bauer speaks out to denounce what he calls a “political, ideological and moral failure”.
He blames the approach of “dominant political ecology”, which he holds responsible for a situation that has become critical in many areas. According to him, decades of policies disconnected from the reality on the ground have turned French landscapes into powder kegs.
“Year after year, the same disconnected logic has been imposed. Disconnected prohibitions, stacking of norms, distrust towards those who live and work the land,” says Max Bauer.
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The result of this approach is, in his view, clear.
“The result is here: poorly maintained spaces, massifs left abandoned, territories transformed into open-air fuel,” he continues.
A tribute to local actors
Faced with this situation, Max Bauer contrasts the discourse of the “permanent lecture-givers” with the concrete action of those he considers the true guardians of the land: farmers, foresters, hunters, and residents. He denounces the marginalisation of these actors, who are nevertheless essential to risk prevention.
“Meanwhile, others are acting. Farmers, foresters, hunters, residents. Those who know the land, who maintain it daily, who clear brush, monitor, open access, maintain balances,” he highlights.
For him, the role of farmers is crucial, as their crops act as natural firebreaks and their presence ensures monitoring and rapid intervention capacity.
“Without them, without the foresters to manage the massifs, without this constant human presence, the territories become traps ready to catch fire,” insists Max Bauer.
For an inquiry commission
Max Bauer severely criticises the attitude of politicians who, in his words, “disappear” when the crisis strikes, only to return once the flames are out to “comment, judge, explain. Never to take responsibility.”
He calls for a radical paradigm shift, advocating for a pragmatic ecology, built with local actors.
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Beyond the emergency, he demands accountability and proposes the creation of a “serious inquiry commission” to analyse the decisions made and identify responsibilities at all levels.
This approach, he believes, is the only one capable of restoring trust and avoiding the repetition of the same ecological tragedies, which destroy decades of biodiversity construction in just a few hours.
“Until, once again, we are served the same conclusion: responsible, but not guilty!”, he concludes with bitterness.
Photo SDIS du Var.