In recent years, the forest guards in Gipuzkoa have received numerous complaints and public criticism from the pastoralists’ groups and the unions EHNE and ENBA. As public workers, we consider it legitimate for citizens to criticise our work, provided that the criticisms are sound and true. Unfortunately this is not the case.

The latter have been carried out by several pastors at a press conference on 6 November in Eskoriatza. In view of this, the forest rangers have felt the need to give our explanations.

As a precedent of this situation it is worth mentioning that in the Special Conservation Area of Izarraitz, with the objective of controlling the goats that were causing damage to the mountain without any control and in the plantations of native trees of great ecological value, in 2014 the City of Azkoitia published the side of asking for measures from the farmers.

In view of the lack of attention on the part of the farmers, the Azkoitia City Hall in 2014 asked the Representative to end the goats without identification. In response to this request, the Head of the Montes Service gave us an order to do so to the forest guards. In the case of Izarraitz, it was impossible to capture the goats alive.

In spite of this, the pastors were granted a period of months to collect the uncontrolled cattle and finally several cacerations were carried out. While we were making these attempts, we saw more than one farmer, but there were desertions and in some cases they mocked the efforts of the forest rangers.

Thus, on 26 August we found the goats in an abrupt place in the lands of Azkoitia and threw 8 goats without identification. While we were putting ourselves in a position to be eaten by scavengers, we heard someone screaming and we went to him, but because he was out of his hand, we couldn't talk to him. He took pictures of us and then spread them on social media without our permission.

Subsequently, a number of pastors who claimed that the goats were owned by them filed a complaint against the forest rangers. The EHNE and ENBA trade unions, in defence of their political interests and against us, launched all kinds of lies in the media. That the owners of the goats did not know the sides, that they were controlled goats, that what we did was like going to a barn and killing the animals, that the forest guards were cattle killers, that we did not stand for trial … Many lies and insults!

Almost 4 years later, the forest rangers who were splintered in this case have been released. The judge considers that the forest rangers act correctly. And during that time, the forest rangers have been quiet, but now, in the face of this new public attack on us, it is time to clarify this situation.

In the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz, a group of pastors held a press conference on 6 November in Eskoriatza, in view of the damage caused to the sheep by uncontrolled dogs. In this case, the shepherds denounced the neglect of the forest guards.

In order to throw away these dogs, which cannot be caught, we must follow a rigorous procedure; the forest guards cannot take that decision on their own and start throwing; the decision must be taken by the City Hall and the Council, always according to the regulations. We have not so far received any request or order to this effect from forest guards.

In the case of goats, despite the fact that the Foral Standard of Montes has to explain the procedure and we have acted in this way, the pastors led both courts with the cooperation of EHNE and ENBA mentioned above. In the case of dogs, on the contrary, there is no established procedure, and forest guards cannot take the weapons and start throwing, or grant such permission to anyone. Society has set itself rules to act in these cases, and we are there to do so professionally.

The problem of uncontrolled domestic animals is becoming more and more serious, so we forest keepers are prepared to help find a solution to this problem, but whenever the procedures and means for this (sufficient number of forest guards and technical means) are put in place in favour of pastors, but also in defence of the welfare and the environment of the animals that we have to protect.

We have to explain that the forest rangers have suffered in recent years from a lack of support from the political positions of the Member. They do not take us into account, we are marginalised and there is no communication or response to our demands and needs. However, we are trying to enforce existing legislation and carry out our administrative functions. So, despite the difficulties, we tried to make the work as orderly as possible, although, as we have said, without the support of our seniors.

Given the situation, in 2017 we created the Association of Forest Guards of Gipuzkoa. As the Member is not in her favour, we have a number of main axes. From the Guardas Forestal, we promote professional training and we demand that the Provincial Council that the material means, the sufficient number of forest guards for the correct performance of our work, socialize the good organization and the work of the forest guards, ending with the invisibility of many years… because many Gipuzkoans and Guipuzkoans do not know the need to do so and the Association, like today, aims to expand our daily tasks.

We have strengthened relations with the Associations of Forest Guards of Bizkaia, Álava and Navarra, and we are aware of other associations in Spain, and we have realised, with exceptions, that the forest guards also have similar problems in other areas. In many cases our work is not taken into account and we have to take firm steps to turn it around.

Society is constantly changing, and of course the mountain world, and institutions and forest rangers need to be able to adapt to new situations. Our desire is to improve the service we offer to Gipuzkoans and Gipuzkoans and to professionalize the profession.

If you also know that the Gipuzkoans, the forest rangers, do not act on our own, we try to ensure that the extensive legislation in force is complied with as best as possible. The control of the goats in Izarraitz was not our whim, as the farmers and some groups disseminated it. We play by complying with the Foral Rules of Gipuzkoa Mountain and following the protocols established by the Provincial Council. In the case of dogs, we will also do so.

In the meantime, we will continue to carry out administrative work in nature (we are forest keepers) and at the service of the citizens, with the means we have. For the primary sector of Gipuzkoa and for the environment, with all our support and solidarity.