BIOKONCHIL - Evaluation of biological diversity under the perspective of the Ecosystem Approach of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the basis of the example of the island Navarino (southern Chile, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn Archipelago)
Project management
Cooperation
Funding
Funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the BioTEAM-Programme ( July 2003 through June 2007)
Aims of the project
The project aims to evaluate measures of biological conservation and socioeconomic development in the sense of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and in particular under the perspective of the Ecosystem Approach of this convention, by means of an example region (case study) in southern Chile (Navarino island, Cape Horn Archipelago). This region is one of few not fragmented and only slightly transformed temperate forests of the world.
On the one hand it is characterized by high biological diversity (especially habitat diversity, but also of previously neglected species groups such as mosses and lichens) and naturalness as well as a high cultural diversity. On the other hand economic pressures such as Salmon farming projects, intensive tourism, construction of routes and other infrastructures are recently threatening the structure, function and composition of the southernmost biodiversity of the Americas. Human influences on local, regional and global scales associated with rapid social and economic changes in the near future will dramatically influence the fate of the local and regional biological diversity.
BIOKONCHIL will contribute significantly to the definition of a set of development and conservation policies respecting, extending and adapting local knowledge and innovative existing projects in the region. Its aim is to connect and integrate scientific findings, (socio-) economic evaluation procedures and evaluation procedures from the realm of environmental ethics. The objective is to provide critical criteria and guidance for policy and decision-making regarding the future development of the region. This linkage shall develop ecological theories, especially the ecosystem concept as a means to structure interdisciplinary research project of biological conservation and sustainable development. Great emphasis will be laid on the involvement of the different relevant actors and stakeholders. All parties who can effect or benefit from natural resources shall be fully involved in planning and managing the Navarino development strategy.
For this purpose the consequences of different development options for biological diversity shall be visualized and be discussed in their implications for the value systems of the actors. In a continuous interplay between the empirical conditions, the (also) socially determined images of nature of the actors, and the economic and moral values of these actors, recommendations for actions for the future development of the region shall be developed, in the sense of the connection of conservation, use and benefit sharing, as postulated in the CBD.
A relevant applied goal is to integrate the ecosystem approach of the CBD with a planned project of Chilean authorities and local actors to establish a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which also emphasizes the international significance of this area for the natural heritage of mankind. An important aim is also to develop such guidelines for decisions in spite of existing uncertainties. Such uncertainties exist both with respect to the biological and socioeconomic empirical data, as they are especially given in developing countries, as well as inherent uncertainties based on ecological-theoretical or epistemological limitations.
On the basis of the case study also a transferable method for the application of the Ecosystem Approach of the convention shall be developed in connection with evaluation procedures and the high integrative abilities of the ecosystem approach shall be developed methodologically. As such this study shall also at the same time supply a model study for the application of the approach as postulated in decision COP V/6 from the member states of the convention.
The region and its current situation
The assigned example region/case study is the Chilean island Navarino, part of the Cape Horn Archipelago Region in the south of Tierra del Fuego. The natural settings of the island is in large parts only sparsely influenced directly by anthropogenic influences and possesses a high diversity of habitats (e.g., evergreen and deciduous Nothofagus forests, peat- and moorlands, wetlands, glaciers, alpine zones, bare rocks, freshwater streams, lakes and ponds, channels, and fiords) and also of some species groups (especially mosses and lichens). The population amounts to ca. 3000 inhabitants, including a small community of the indigenous Yamana- (or Yahgan, respectively) people. Anthropogenic influences up to now exist with a concentration in the coastal areas as well on a local level (use of wood, fisheries, cattle farming) as on a regional (fisheries, tourism) and global (invasive species, ozone depletion, fisheries) level.
Up to the 1990s access to the island was strongly restricted due to military reasons. Since then, many of the austral military reserves began to be opened. At the same time economic pressures, such as Salmon farming projects, intensive tourism, construction of routes and other infrastructures are threatening the southernmost biodiversity of the Americas. Pressures which will be accelerated through the planned partial retreat of the main employee, the Chilean navy, and development plans on the national level.
Strong changes in the social and economic conditions have thus to be expected during the next years, changes whose precise direction is still largely open. An important option here is seen in ecotourism, for which biological diversity is an important capital stock.
Under the lead of the Chilean scientists R. Rozzi, F. Massardo (both NGO foundation Omora, Chile and University of Connecticut, USA) and O. Dollenz (Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile) a research project is carried out since 3 years which aims at an integration of biological conservation and socio-economic development on the island, in which the BIOKONCHIL project leader K. Jax is associated. There are thus already well-established contacts with the different local and regional institutions (Gobernacion Tierra del Fuego Antarctica, Community of Navarino/Cabo de Hornos, local school, ethnological-natural history museum "Martin Gusinde", Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, regional offices of the national Chilean environmental offices CONAMA and CONAF, regional military offices) and the different social groups on the island, including the indigenous Yahgan-community. Starting from this existing projects and in close cooperation with the current one, the establishment of a UNESCO/MAB Biosphere Reserve is currently under way. Also several international organizations (e.g. Earthwatch and the Audobon Society) are already working in this area together with R. Rozzi and F. Massardo and shall be won for a cooperation in the planned project.
Important options for the future development of the island, connected with coming structural changes, are: salmon farming in the many inlets of the island, native fishery, ecotourism, and a multitude of small activities which in part are also related to (eco) tourism: development of the local cuisine and gastronomy, cattle farming, horticulture, arts and crafts etc. Native fishery and the set of activities related to ecotourism are highly compatible. In contrast, salmon farming seems to be in conflict with those activities, and there are numerous reports of of negative environmental and social consequences in other regions of Chile and elsewhere. Evaluation of potential future economic scenarios based on native fishery, ecotourism and/or slamon farming are urgently required.
Additional cooperations
Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arena, Chile
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago de Chile
University of North Texas, Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, Denton, Texas, USA
University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Die Untersuchungsregion und ihre Bedingungen
Die untersuchte Region ist die chilenische Insel Navarino, Teil der Region des Kap Hoorn-Archipels im Süden Feuerlands. Die Insel ist großenteils wenig anthropogen beeinflußt und sie verfügt über eine extrem hohe Lebensraumvielfalt (z.B. immergrüne und sommergrüne Nothofagus-Wälder, Sumpf- und Moorgebiete, Gletscher, alpine Zonen, Fließgewässer, Seen, Teiche, Fjorde, Buchten u.a. Küstenformen) und auch über eine hohe Vielfalt bei einigen Artengruppen (besonders Moose und Flechten). Die Bevölkerung beläuft sich auf ca. 3000 Einwohner, unter Einschluss einer kleinen Gemeinschaft des indigenen Yamana- bzw. Yaghan- Volkes. Die Ursachen anthropogener Einflüsse liegen -mit einer Konzentration auf die Küstengebiete- sowohl auf lokaler Ebene (Holznutzung, Fischerei, Weidewirtschaft) als auch auf regionaler (Fischerei, Tourismus) und globaler Ebene (invasive Arten, Ozonloch, Fischerei).
Bis Ende der 1990er Jahre war der Zugang zu der Insel aus militärischen Gründen stark eingeschränkt. Seither werden viele der südlichen Militärgebiete allmählich geöffnet. Zur gleichen Zeit wächst der Druck auf die biologische Vielfalt dieser Gebiete aufgrund diverser regionaler ökonomischer Ansprüche (u.a. Planungen für Lachsfarmen und intensiven Tourismus), verstärkt und beschleunigt durch den geplanten teilweisen Rückzug des Hauptarbeitgebers, der chilenischen Marine, sowie durch nationale Entwicklungspläne. Daher ist in den nächsten Jahren ein starker Umbruch in den sozialen und ökonomischen Strukturen zu erwarten, dessen Richtung aber noch weitgehend offen ist.
Eine wichtige Option besteht hierbei im Ökotourismus, für den die biologische Vielfalt der Region ein wichtiges "Kapital" darstellt. Unter Leitung der chilenischen Wissenschaftler R. Rozzi, F. Massardo (beide Stiftung Omora, Puerto Williams, Chile und University of Connecticut, USA) und O. Dollenz (Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile) findet seit 3 Jahren ein Forschungsprojekt zur Vermittlung von Naturschutz und sozioökonomischer Entwicklung auf der Insel statt, dem der Projektleiter Dr. K. Jax assoziiert ist. Dadurch bestehen bereits gut etablierte Kooperationen mit den verschiedenen lokalen und regionalen Institutionen (Gobernacion der Provincia Antárctica Chilena, Gemeinde Navarino/Cabo de Hornos, örtliche Schule, Ethnologisch-naturkundliches Museum "Martin Gusinde", Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Regionalbüros der staatlichen chilenischen Umweltbehörden CONAMA und CONAF, regionale Militärverwaltung) und den Bevölkerungsgruppen auf der Insel, darunter der indigenen Yaghan-Gemeinschaft . Ausgehend von den bestehenden Arbeiten und in enger Verknüpfung mit dem geplanten Projekt wird gegenwärtig die Einrichtung eines UNESCO/MAB-Biosphärenreservats im Kap Hoorn- Archipel vorbereitet. Auch verschiedene internationale Organisationen (z.B. Earthwatch, Audobon Society) arbeiten bereits zusammen mit R. Rozzi and F. Massardo in dem Gebiet und sollen für eine Zusammenarbeit im Sinne des geplanten Projekts gewonnen werden.
Wichtige Optionen für die künftige mit dem bevorstehenden Strukturwandel auf der Insel verbundene Entwicklung sind: Lachsfarmen in den zahlreichen Buchten der Inseln, lokal begrenzte Fischerei durch Ortsansässige, Ökotourismus, sowie eine Vielzahl von kleinteiligen Aktivitäten, die z.T. wieder in Beziehung zum (Öko)tourismus stehen: Entwicklung der regionalen Küche und Gastronomie, Viehwirtschaft, Gartenbau, Kunsthandwerk u.a. Lokal betriebene Fischerei und die unterschiedlichen, mit einem Ökotourismus verbundenen Aktivitäten sind hochgradig kompatibel. Im Gegensatz dazu scheint die Einrichtung von Lachsfarmen mit solchen Aktivitäten zu konfligieren, und es gibt sowohl aus Chile selbst als auch aus anderen Regionen der Welt zahlreiche Berichte negativer Auswirkungen auf Umwelt und Sozialsystem. Eine Bewertung potentieller zukünftiger ökonomischer Szenarios mit den o.g. und ggf. anderen Entwicklungsoptionen ist daher dringend erforderlich.
