Researchers from the Environmental Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Dynamics team at SMI-ICE-Chile took part at the 1st Congress of Salt Flats and High Andean Ecosystems, organized by the Natural Laboratory Node for Salt Flats and the Laboratory of Microbial Complexity and Functional Ecology at the University of Antofagasta.
Dilan Campos presented on “Advanced Techniques for Estimating Carbon Sequestration and Vegetation Death in High Andean Wetlands,” a study that consolidates interdisciplinary work carried out by SMI-ICE-Chile, the University of Concepción, and the University of Development. One of the case studies aims to estimate the net balance of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in the Lagunillas wetland.
“High Andean wetlands play a fundamental role on our planet, providing ecosystem services, most notably the regulation of the hydrological and carbon cycles,” explained Dilan Campos. “However, they are fragile ecosystems, exposed to the threats of climate change and local human activity, such as water extraction. The Lagunillas wetland, located in the Tarapacá Region, has faced significant impacts that compromise its ecological function.”
Dilan Campos also supported his presentation with a second case study, titled: “Chronology and Dynamics of Plant Death in the Pedernales Salt Flat.”
In conclusion, Dilan Campos emphasized the importance and benefits of using advanced techniques to care for and preserve these valuable ecosystems. “The integration of radiometric data, multisensor field data and geospatial analysis,” he said, “offers a powerful set of tools to better characterize and understand high Andean wetlands in the context of global climate change.”
For his part, researcher Pablo Bustos presented on “Cultural and Territorial Relevance in Environmental Conflict Resolution,” based on the case study of the Pedernales Salt Flat.
His focus was the Pedernales Salt Flat Enhancement Plan—one of the 12 measures agreed upon in the Settlement and Transaction between Codelco Salvador and the State Defense Council—which involved a series of actions to protect high-Andean wetland ecosystems.
The SMI-ICE-Chile researcher detailed the relevance and challenges of this project: sharing knowledge and raising awareness in the community about high-Andean wetlands, with an emphasis on their conservation; promoting a process to generate social value through the active participation of local communities; strengthening social cohesion; and promoting learning, environmental awareness, and the biocultural heritage of the Colla people.
“For sustainability, environmental education and relevance are transformative tools, as they promote meaningful learning, strengthen territorial identity, and mobilize new generations as agents of change,” stated Pablo Bustos. “The value of territories has deep biocultural roots, and therefore, recognizing local knowledge, identities, and historical ties is key to creating sustainable solutions.
“Mining territories,” he added, “can also be spaces for encounter, learning, and conservation: this experience in the Pedernales Salt Flat demonstrates that, with the right approach and collaboration, social and environmental value can be generated in complex contexts. Cooperation among communities, institutions, and companies is essential for building sustainable development models.”
