First published on 02/11/2012, and last updated on 03/11/2018
By: Lorena Arce – Consortium Member
I have been working with the Mapu Lahual: a network of nine huilliche communities in the coastal edge of Southern Chile. Covering an area of almost 60,000 hectares, Mapu Lahual can only be accessed by sea or by foot, through a coastal path of 52 kilometres. For some time, I have been exploring how the wealth of the natural environment contrasts with the lack of opportunities and isolation of the local communities, which suffer from insecure land tenure, lack of local services and very precarious infrastructure. For the local communities, these have been major constraints to achieve their development and they have found difficult to obtain attention from the local government. This area should be recognised as a priority site for conservation due to its high number of coastal forests, secluded beaches, clear rivers, and unpolluted marine ecosystems.
To see a video of the area in the Consortium Vimeo site, click here.
