Ríos Protegidos Initiative, Chile
Chile’s Vulnerable Rivers
In Chile there are 1,251 rivers distributed in 101 basins throughout the country. Incredibly, only 1% of these rivers have any degree of legal protection.
The construction of hydroelectric plants and the illegal extraction of aggregates and chemical pollution by mining companies are just some of the threats to Chile’s rivers, generating social, economic, and environmental problems to local communities. Unfortunately, the Chilean legal framework has no comprehensive and permanent solution to protect and restore the country’s riverine ecosystems.
Towards Permanent Protection and Restoration for Chilean Rivers
Since 2023, the Ríos Protegidos Initiative has gathered national and international organizations seeking to strengthen river protection and restoration in Chile through the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of its members. Earth Law Center is a proud member of this initiative.
The initiative's current efforts are focused on strengthening existing legal river protection mechanisms and advocating for new legislation with an ecocentric approach that considers the health of whole ecosystems. The proposed bill would introduce into law No. 21.600 the figure of "Río Protegido," establishing a major legal precedent for protection of Chilean rivers from certain harmful human activities and developments. This reform seeks to provide a healthy habitat for many species, welfare for those living around them, and clean water for human consumption and recreational, cultural, scenic, spiritual, and historical uses.
Ríos Protegidos Workshops: Linking People to their Rivers
The Ríos Protegidos Initiative seeks to recognize gaps in the current Chilean legislation regarding the protection of rivers and their watersheds, and identify the opportunities that the law offers for local communities to make conscious, sustainable, and efficient use of their rivers.
Toward this end, the initiative has conducted Ríos Protegidos workshops throughout Chile, seeking to raise awareness and support about the importance of legislative reform and connect with the riparian communities to protect and restore their local rivers. By integrating local needs and joining efforts, we are helping to turn rivers back into meeting points between humans and the Nature that surrounds them, and the initiative has succeeded in raising awareness and support for legislative reform.
ELC played a pivotal role in Ríos Protegidos workshops held in Coyhaique, Chilean Patagonia, and Cajón del Maipo, a small town near Santiago, Chile’s capital. And in May 2024, the initiative had its first in-person meeting, which was instrumental in helping diverse parties to align their perspectives. This alignment was crucial in setting the principles and objectives that will guide the initiative in the coming years.
Additional resources on the Ríos Protegidos Initiative
Header Photo: Unsplash / Trevor Vannoy; Multimedia: (1) Felipe Zanotti / (2) Germán Weber / (3) Felipe Zanotti; Resources Photo: Felipe Zanotti; Footer Photo: Unsplash / Akshay Nanavati