Inhabitants of Chile’s Patagonia are working to make the Aysén region a life preserve. The sustainable development project, also involves Argentina, an historic ally in this inhospitable territory struggling to use its natural gifts to promote growth. Peter Hartmann, coordinator of the Aysén Reserva de Vida project, said the group is not interested in putting a "padlock" on the region, but rather using its resources in a sustainable fashion. Foto: Marianela Jarroud /IPS. "The citizens’ mega-project Aysén Reserva de Vida, emerged as a theoretical proposal about wanting to have an exceptional region, with an exceptional sustainable and inclusive development model, with and for the region’s people," explained activist Peter Hartmann, creator of the concept and the coalition carrying out the project. "There are many who say that we want to put a padlock on the region, but what we are seeking is to utilize its qualities, as opposed to the globalized world’s mega-projects which will destroy them," he said. The austral region of Aysén is one of Chile’s least populated, with a low density population of 105,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, the frigid area harbors vast biodiversity, great rivers, lakes and snowfields, fertile land and rich marine resources exploited by large fishing companies. "We are infinitesimal within this vast territory," said Claudia Torres, a native Aysenan, designer and communicator. Patagonia covers some 1.06 million square kilometers of the Americas’ far South, 75% of which is located within Argentina, and the rest in Aysén and the southernmost part of Magallanes. Aysén is home to numerous species of flora and fauna in diverse ecosystems, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, some of which have yet to be identified. It is the last refuge of the huemul, an endemic deer in danger of extinction. The heart of Patagonian Chile, Aysén’s capital Coyhaique, is 1,629 kilometers south of Santiago, and obscures behind its breathtaking landscape the fact that it is the country’s most polluted city, due to the burning of cheap, damp wood to heat homes, in a region where temperatures fall below zero for a large portion of the year. It is one of the country’s poorest, most vulnerable regions, where 9.97% of the population lives in poverty and 4.22% in extreme poverty. These figures, however, do not adequately express the vulnerability of families, said Eduardo Montti, the regional government’s secretary for Social Development. "We have fallen behind in assuring a basic standard of living, and making essential services available, so that the community and different actors can develop in conditions on a par with the rest of the country," he acknowledged. Nevertheless, he affirmed, "The Socialist government of Michelle Bachelet, in May, established a plan for remote areas, recognizing the disparity in these territories with respect to the rest of the country, which helps to identify with precision the urgent needs." He explained that of importance to the region are "advancing in the development of tourism, strengthening of small local economies, and also sharing and participating in the development of customs, or their exposure and promotion." Torres, an active participant in the Citizens’ Coalition for the Aysén Life Preserve insists that the region is "one of the few remaining which still has the opportunity to generate a different model of development." It is one of the few areas in the world which, to a large extent, retains its original characteristics. Large portions are under different forms of protection, including the Laguna de San Rafael Biosphere Reserve, a glacier lake ecosystem. The region aspires to being declared a World Heritage Site. "The model we are building points toward the strengthening of local economic development - on the local scale, in a democratic manner, not with models imposed, cooperative, sustainable in environmental and economic terms, based on the premise that we are just passing through, and that which you take must be returned," Torres explained. She added that the project "is a dream, and we are working for it, so that people recognize that part of the value of living here has to do with the life. For example, this is a region where you can still drink water from a river or lake, because you know you won’t have a problem." "We do not think of it as a life preserve exclusively for Patagonians," she clarified, "but for the entire country. For example, I don’t have a problem with the region sharing water with dryer areas," she said, but emphasized, "water for crops, to drink, to live, but not for mega-industry." In this effort, Chilean Patagonians have a powerful ally in Argentine Patagonia, where residents are struggling against the use of shared watersheds by large mining companies. "There is a great struggle which has a common element, water," Torres commented. The two sides of the Andes have a long history of shared traditions which make them a single region, very valuable given the biodiversity, but also vulnerable. "We consider ourselves Chile, we consider ourselves Patagonia… Chilean and Argentine," she emphasized. From the very beginning, the Aysén Reserva de Vida showed itself to be more than theoretical. Hartmann recalled that they have been able to implement three sustainable community tourism projects, financed by the Fondo de las Américas. "We trained communities in the care of their own territory, but also in community tourism. That is how the currently functioning school for tourist guides emerged," he added. "The traditional fishermen of Puerto Aysén also contribute to making their work more sustainable. There are garbage collection projects which have also been exemplary, and much production of handicrafts with local products, which is super sustainable," Hartmann continued. Another effort is the "Taste of Aysén" for quality products and services based on a regional identity and protection of natural resources, in addition to a solar energy cooperative, which has an increasing number of adherents. The project, Hartmann summarized, has two dimensions, the promotion of consciousness and citizen participation. The trademark Aysén Reserva de Vida has been created, and initiatives continue to be proposed in regards to sustainable products or processes, attractive to both local consumers and visitors. The idea of advancing toward a life preserve is a broad concept, able to integrate diverse sectors within the population, a positive development for a region which has been polarized for 10 years during the struggle against the hydroelectric mega-project HidroAysén, finally rejected by the government in June. Also dividing the population were 2012 demonstrations against the right wing government of Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014). "There is greater sensitivity and this is progress," Torres said, "This means that there is an appreciation of this patrimony." (From IPS)
