Santiago Foothills: Mountain Ecosystem Conservation

The Andes Mountain Range extends for thousands of kilometers, forming the spine of Latin America. Chile contains the longest stretch of these mountains, which tower above the nation's capital, Santiago. The mountains are home to a Mediterranean ecosystem, "the matorral and sclerophyllous forest," that is unique to this part of the planet. Due to the high level of endemism among the almost 500 species of flora and fauna found only in these mountains, this ecosystem is classified as a high conservation priority at global level.

A project called "Protege" (Protect) was created with the support of seven municipalities that border the mountain range. The mission of Protege is to create a large natural park in Santiago's foothills (13,352 hectares) to preserve the biodiversity of the area, protect the flora and fauna, and contribute to building a more nature-connected society.

Most of the support for the implementation of the Project came from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the World Bank, starting in 2002. Three years after receiving the GEF funding, the project has achieved many results that are helping to consolidate the vision of the park. Protege is building up a solid body of experiences and lessons learned for dissemination to groups involved in similar efforts, both in Chile and abroad.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• latin
• america
• chile
• world
• bank
• montains
• santiago
• ecosystem
• forest