Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Tourism depends almost entirely on biodiversity, which provides recreation and other services supportive of the wellbeing of local communities and visitors [ ] 78 The fishing community caring for the biodiversity of the islands The sector of Punta de Choros Cove (IV Region of Coquimbo), is adja- cent to three islands that make up the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve — Isla Choros, Isla Damas and Isla Gaviota. The challenge of the fishermen of the cove in achieving sustainable fishing is considered in parallel with the development of the tourist potential of the area, which has a special scenic beauty and the presence of macrovertebrates such as wolves, penguins and dolphins, as well as acting as a biological corridor for the passage of cetaceans. Two management rules have been implemented in order to achieve sus- tainable fishing and exploit tourism potential: the creation of a marine reserve to protect the reproductive states of the abalone and limpet species, with restricted access to their production, and an Area of Manage- ment and Exploitation of Ecological Resources (AMERB), regulated by a management plan, with the direct participation of local fishermen. In addition, the diversification of activities has been encouraged for the realization of initiatives of micro companies for the sighting of dolphins and resident fauna. Along with this, it was necessary to resolve the conflict caused by changing the practices of the local community and fishermen, which entailed a process of socialization in the medium term through committees validated by the fishing community and constituted by community actors, to organize the exploitation activities and the tourist activity of the area. This process began 14 years ago and now fishing quotas have been maintained for the abalone and lim- pet. An emerging business of dolphin and local fauna watching was also developed, necessitating an increase in local tourist infrastructure and communications. At present the populations of sea lions, dolphins, and guano birds have been main- tained, as have the fishing quotas in the AMERB, which indicates that the regulated intervention shows signs of sustainability. T he biodiversity of Chile is characterized by a relatively high endemism of species in very varied and small ecosystems, giving rise to a great wealth of marine, coastal, terrestrial and insular environments, providing habitats for around 30,000 species of plants , animals, fungi and bacteria. The central and southern part of the country is considered one of the 35 global hotspots of biodiversity by the NGO, Conservation International. Given its critical state of conservation, it has also been classified as one of the most threatened by the Global 200 initiative of WWF and the World Bank. Torres del Paine National Park Sean McKeever on flickr Chile