Area of Study: wetlands

This project explores the conservation challenges and solutions facing the Mirasol wetland in Valparaíso Chile. The wetland is part of a popular beach and tourist destination for Chile’s most populated city, Santiago. The heavy foot traffic has brought along with it an abundance of litter, plastics, noise pollution, food and human waste, and a rat population thriving off food litter. These issues are exacerbated by a lack of nearby bathrooms and a waste management system but is ultimately an issue of human behaviour. Besides pollution, the wetland is always threatened by extremely low water levels. The wetland is likely shrinking due to water-intensive, invasive trees taking over the ecosystem. The local community also suspects water is being illegally drained to water vineyards upstream. The Mirasol wetland is considered an urban wetland but is not yet officially declared so by the Ministry of the Environment despite public efforts. As such, there is very little protection, management, or relevant research being done for this invaluable ecosystem that provides many ecosystem services to locals. Due to a lack of government action, concerned local residents of Algarrobo have been spearheading conservation advocacy efforts.