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Municipality of Valdivia, CONAF, and FAO promote forest enrichment in three urban parks

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As part of the commitment to strengthen the bond between the community, forest conservation, and the city, the Illustrious Municipality of Valdivia, the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) participated in the launch of the More Forests for Valdivia Project. This initiative was formalized through the signing of a collaboration agreement between the institutions.

Regarding this, Valdivia's Mayor, Carla Amtmann, emphasized, "We are working to create more green spaces for all of Valdivia. This project will help promote workshops and plantings in highly valuable parks such as Saval, Harnecker, and Vergara Dávila in Niebla. All of this aims to enhance preventive measures against forest fires while valuing these environments for a better quality of life. Safety and nature go hand in hand, and this is part of our municipal management."

This initiative, to be carried out in Saval Park, Harnecker Park in Valdivia, and Vergara Dávila Park in Niebla, involves forest enrichment activities, including the planting of native species; preventive actions against forest fires through the implementation of fuel breaks; and the execution of workshops called "Strengthening Homes Against Forest Fires." Additionally, it includes improvements to recreational trails in Saval Park.

Arnoldo Shibar, Regional Director of CONAF, highlighted the signing of the agreement, stating, "This agreement marks the beginning of the project proposed by the Municipality of Valdivia, which holds great significance for us. The project will be implemented in three urban parks in the Valdivia commune and is associated with native forest enrichment, trail improvements, and preventive forestry activities (fire prevention). We are very pleased with this signing and hope to continue joint activities with the municipality and, of course, with the National Strategy on Climate Change and Vegetation Resources."

More Forests for Valdivia emerged after the municipality applied for and was awarded $18,200,000 in 2023 through the Public Competition of the National Strategy on Climate Change and Vegetation Resources (ENCCRV), led by CONAF and its +Forests Project. This initiative receives technical advisory from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and funding from the Green Climate Fund, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation to combat the negative consequences and impacts of climate change.

For Pablo Honeyman, National Coordinator of the +Forests Project, "This initiative, to be implemented in urban parks managed by the Municipality of Valdivia, represents a concrete step in combating the climate crisis through action-oriented measures to enrich forests with native species and prevent forest fires, while simultaneously improving the well-being of residents—an integral objective of the +Forests Project."

The Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of Agriculture of Los Ríos called for continuity in the work being carried out by CONAF and the Municipality of Valdivia to extend joint efforts. "From a ministerial perspective, this agreement is an important and relevant milestone that also invites other municipalities in the region to join," emphasized Sánchez, also highlighting the local municipality's commitment to rural initiatives.

"Historically, CONAF has been a regulatory agency, recognized for its crucial work in forest fires. But today, in terms of environmental education and conservation, CONAF has opened up significantly to the public," stressed Jorge Sánchez.