Chile: Environmental History, Perspectives and Challenges

308 Pages·2019·8.541 MB·English

by  Alberto J. Alaniz (Editor)

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ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ADVANCES

C
HILE

E H ,
NVIRONMENTAL ISTORY
P C
ERSPECTIVES AND HALLENGES

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E R
NVIRONMENTAL ESEARCH
A
DVANCES

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ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ADVANCES

C
HILE

E H ,
NVIRONMENTAL ISTORY
P C
ERSPECTIVES AND HALLENGES

ALBERTO J. ALANIZ
EDITOR

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ISBN: (cid:28)(cid:26)(cid:27)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:16)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:25)(cid:16)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:78)(cid:12)
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CONTENTS

Preface vii
Chapter 1 Chilean Forests: Recent Trends
and Perspectives 1
Alberto J. Alaniz
Chapter 2 Beyond the Past and Present: Identifying Current
Trends of Conflicts with Biodiversity, Biological
Conservation and Ecosystem Functions
for the Chile of the Future 33
Rodrigo M. Barahona-Segovia,
Ignacio Nuñez-Hidalgo, Carlos González-Césped
and José Alejandro S. Rojas-Osorio
Chapter 3 Private Protected Areas in Chile:
Developments since the 1980s 99
Benedikt Hora and Carla Marchant
Chapter 4 Climate Change: Impacts, Policy
and Perspectives 119
Ignacio Núñez-Hidalgo
Chapter 5 Building Resilience: The Reciprocal Relationship
between Livestock and Climate Change in Chile 155
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vi Contents
Constanza Gutiérrez-Gómez,
Rodrigo Arias Inostroza, Paula Toro Mujica,
Paul Escobar Bahamondes
and Javier Nicul Huerta
Chapter 6 Natural Risks in Chile: History,
Approaches and Future Challenges 209
Carolina Martínez, Magdalena Vicuña,
Nikole Guerrero and Victor Orellana
Chapter 7 Arsenic and Copper in Chile and the Development
of Environmental Standards 241
Joseline Tapia, María Pía Rodríguez,
Pamela Castillo, Rodrigo González,
Carlos Rodríguez, Ana Valdés,
Brian Townley and Guillermo Fuentes
About the Editor 287
Index 289
Related Nova Publications 295

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PREFACE

Chile is located in the Southern Cone of South America; it has a high
diversity of landscapes which have been considered by naturalists and
scientists as an irreplaceable patrimony of nature. This country has more
than 4000 kilometers of latitudinal extension, with deserts, agricultural
valleys, large mineral deposits, ancient forests, relict and endemic species,
glaciers, dunes, indigenous cultures and an increasing economy. The
relationship between human development and natural characteristics in this
diverse country has been quite variable over time; a number of different
processes have produced the current state of nature and culture. The
environment of Chile has undergone notorious changes since the Spanish
colonization, determined by the natural characteristics of the territory and
governmental policies which transformed the landscape and human life
styles. These changes have continued up to the present day; the first book
about environmental issues in Chile, entitled “La sobrevivencia de Chile”
(The survival of Chile) published by Rafael Elizalde Mac-Clure in 1970,
predicted several of the environmental impacts generated recently by human
activities in the country.
Conservation is strongly influenced by understanding of and respect for
the value of nature; this depends importantly on education and knowledge
about the history, perspectives and challenges to the environment.
Understanding the environment is fundamental to value nature; this
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viii Alberto J. Alaniz
cognitive process generates a link between the reader and nature which
promotes the understanding of nature and thus the generation of empathy
and feeling with it. It is necessary to understand the problems which have
been generated by humans in order to generate perspectives about the current
and future state of nature. Generation of these perspectives will help to
confront new challenges, accepting our responsibilities and motivating the
generation of positive feedback between humans and nature.
The main aim of this book is to contribute to the understanding of the
environment in Chile. I invited experts in different fields of knowledge
linked to the environment to contribute, aiming to reach a holistic view of
this topic. The first chapter focuses on understanding an important
dimension of nature, describing the Chilean forests as one of the main
natural patrimonies of the country. Then the human enforcement of
conservation biodiversity and natural patrimony is presented, analyzing
what was, is and will be the role of different actors (protected areas,
government and the educational system) in the conservation of biodiversity.
Topics such as plastic pollution in oceans, the role of the school education
system, private protected areas and others are addressed. Then the book
focuses on new factors linked to climate change which will affect natural
characteristics in the future, addressing the potential impacts generated by
climate change on the environment of Chile. As an example of these factors,
livestock activities and their impact on environment are analyzed in depth,
presenting alternatives for sustainable development in the near future that
take into account food security, soil erosion and climate change. The book
finalizes with two issues which are strongly linked to human activities,
natural hazards and mining impacts. A history of natural hazards in Chile is
presented, analyzing the changes in policy and the influence of socio-
environmental events and dynamics on the current structure of risks in Chile
determined by natural and human factors. Finally, an analysis of the impacts
of mining associated with arsenic and copper is presented, describing the
development of environmental standards which aim to avoid or reduce the
impacts on nature and humans.

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