With the official creation of the Parque Nacional Glaciares de Santiago [Santiago Glaciers National Park] in the high peaks of the cajón del Maipo, as citizen campaign #QueremosParque, we celebrate the official protection of the territory, protecting the more than 300 existing glaciers (20,000 ha). The park will protect a great part of Santiago’s water sources, which must be a reason for joy for all citizens, especially those who have been part of the campaign.
However, the proposal contemplates protecting only the high mountain areas above 3600m of altitude, that means 75,114 of the 142,000 ha of existing public lands, making it inaccessible for citizens. This also means leaving half of the public land without protection.
The Parque Nacional Glaciares de Santiago is a great first step, but it doesn’t fulfill the spirit of conservation or public access of the territory because:
- It’s a park created without citizen participation. It’s essential to integrate muleteers, residents, hikers and nature sportsmen, environmentalists, tourism service providers, and civil society organizations that work in the territory.
- The park is located at an altitude of 3600 m, with little or non-existent access, and only high mountain sportsmen will be able to access it. It’s not a park that families can visit as part of their day-to-day life and genuine interest in getting close to nature. This is a great opportunity to democratize access to nature.
- The park leaves out the habitat of the Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita), an endangered species recently detected in the area.
- It’s a park whose only conservation targets are the high peaks and glaciers, ignoring the importance of high Andean wetland ecosystems and other fragile ecosystems in the Andes Mountains, because it doesn’t protect valleys or vegetation in the watersheds that supply water. Protecting only glaciers is insufficient.
- It’s a tailor-made park for existing mining concessions and projects in the remaining 67,000 ha, because it doesn’t limit or prohibit their development.
We are extremely concerned about the future of the Colorado and Olivares River valleys, which are at the mercy of privatization, exploitation, concessions, or any other type of intervention. We regret that the opportunity to create a large, protected area for the enjoyment of all Chilean men and women and protect the Andean biodiversity, the sources, and the water courses of the capital is not complete.
As citizen campaign #QueremosParque, we will continue to demand the protection of the last public lands in central Chile. Half is not enough!
Public statement Citizen campaign #QueremosParque August 16, 2023.
References:
- Queremos Parque Link
- Diario Oficial: Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales crea el «Parque Nacional Glaciares de Santiago», en la comuna de San José de Maipo, Región Metropolitana. Link [Chilean newspaper: Ministry of National Goods creates the “Parque Nacional Glaciares de Santiago” in the commune San José de Maipo, Metropolitana Region]
- Declaración Pública Campaña Ciudadana #QueremosParque. Link
Highlighted image by Ximena Salazar
