Regional governments of Coquimbo and Atacama sign agreement to protect Humboldt Archipelago

The regional governments of Coquimbo and Atacama signed a collaboration agreement to protect the biodiversity of the Humboldt Archipelago. The regional authorities, Krist Naranjo and Miguel Vargas, joined forces to go to the rescue of an area in permanent threat, mainly due to mining and port projects that seek to settle in the area, such as Dominga and Cruz Grande.
“Today we are carrying out a historic event between Atacama and Coquimbo. For us it is very significant that the protection and the call for this area to be a Marine Protected Area of multiple uses involves the two regions. Although Coquimbo is a little further ahead in this proposal, we believe that Atacama should be incorporated into this protection, because nature is one, the coastal edge is one, and this reserve, especially, has all its biodiversity contained between both regions. Therefore, for us it is important to move forward with a single area,” said Governor Naranjo.
For his part, the governor of Atacama added that “this is a clear expression of the sovereignty that can be achieved from the regions. Defending territorial interests involves active community participation and alliances between governments, and here we have agreed with the Regional Government of Coquimbo to advance a unique project of regional interest, such as improving the standard of protection in the Humboldt archipelago, which implies agreeing on a work plan to give more protection to this unique ecosystem in the world. ”
The declaration of a Multipurpose Marine Protected Area is possible thanks to the 1994 nature of Chile’s party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in which each State undertakes to generate a system of protected areas, to adopt special measures for the conservation of biodiversity and to manage the important resources for this purpose.
The Humboldt Archipelago, located on the coasts of the communes of Freirina and La Higuera, regions of Atacama and Coquimbo respectively, is known worldwide as a biodiversity hotspot. A place where it is possible to spot dolphins, whales and a wide diversity of birds, in addition to having the largest population of Humboldt penguins.
An area that is in permanent threat, mainly due to mining and port projects that seek to settle in the area, such as Dominga and Cruz Grande, so the regional governors of Coquimbo and Atacama, Krist Naranjo and Miguel Vargas, joined forces and signed a collaboration agreement to protect biodiversity in these islands and islets.
From the Government, the Minister of the Environment, Carolina Schmidt explained that it is intended to “determine a coastal protected area in the area of La Higuera, so she developed a concrete proposal of more than 200 thousand hectares to be presented to the council of sustainability ministers for approval at the end of the year.”
“Measures to protect ecosystems that are fundamental for science and citizenship.”
This was detailed by the academic of the Department of Marine Biology of the UCN, Carlos Gaymer, who explained that a Marine Protected Area of Multiple Uses allows sustainable activities while preserving the ecosystems and biodiversity of the place, that is, “productive and development activities can coexist without affecting or destroying the environment. Here we are talking about a bi-regional area that covers the entire Humboldt Archipelago, which is very well defined by science as a unit from the point of view of fishing, production, oceanographic conditions and life here. The boundaries are very important and range from the north of Chañaral Island to the south of the bird islets.”
In his speech to the authorities, scientists, organizations and community present, the expert clarified that marine protected areas do not limit development, but enhance it. “At the global level, it has been studied how these areas enhance the low-impact productive sector, generating more employment, more resources, but for that we must develop a master plan for the entire area, which allows to promote more productive activities, because here the riches of nature are gigantic,” he added.
By definition, these areas can receive, within their multiple uses, activities that do not affect the objects of conservation, that is, by which these areas are created. At these points, high-impact development projects, such as ports or large mining, do not they have a place, because they directly impact on the objects of conservation.
After the meeting and subsequent signing of collaboration between both territories, the leader of the union of divers and fishermen of Chañaral de Aceituno, Claudio Mamani, highlighted the participation of citizens, science and organizations in this work, because “this speaks well of us as fishermen, for the responsibility we have with the environment and thinking about the new generations. We are a neighboring cove that can be affected with the projects that are in the folder for the sector, therefore, we are happy with this agreement or regional, and hopefully we continue to advance in this. ”
For his part, Oscar Aviléz, president of the Fishermen’s Guild of Punta de Choros and councilor of La Higuera, added that “this is a very important sector for biodiversity and for small-scale local economies, so this is encouraging, in the sense of limiting the installation of projects harmful to the environment. That is why we appreciate the presence of the governors and the signing of this joint work agreement to conserve and maintain the species, and thus be able to exploit them in a sustainable way.”
For the spokeswoman of the Humboldt Coquimbo – Atacama Association, Nancy Duman, this is a milestone of historical relevance within the process of protection of this archipelago.
“For 17 years, the protection of this entire Humboldt archipelago has been proposed from different areas and that today the governors of Atacama and Coquimbo have met, and this commitment has been signed is very important, because they also do it with the participation and support of the inhabitants of the territory. This gives strength for us to achieve it in a visible time, hopefully it will be soon, because the studies are, there is a technical proposal that has been improved over the years, “said Duman.
The signing of this commitment took place in Punta de Choros, where the relevant scientific background was reviewed to request the Government to expedite this environmental protection measure, in addition to holding a dialogue with the different organizations of the commune of Freirina and La Higuera present at the meeting.

Original source in Spanish

Related Posts

Add Comment