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Gracias Consejo Consultivo!
With my signature I join with Sphenisco e.V. in thanking Consejo Consultivo (advisory board), of the National Protection Area of the Humboldt Penguin. For more than 20 years, the advisory board has exemplarily, and incorruptibly advocated for the habitat of the Humboldt Penguin and other threatened species. In the zone of the Protection Area eight different species of whale, nine species of dolphins find sustenance, bottlenose dolphins raise their young, and many coastal residents earn their living through fishing as well as tourism. Each of us, each according to his abilities, will continue to support Consejo Consultivos’ efforts to protect this ecosystem of global importance.
Can Justice See in the Dark and Does She Even Want to?
La Serena, Landau 21. March 2018.
We remember. Sphenisco and Chilean environmentalists continually pointed out the irregularities in the environmental review of the Dominga project (Andes Iron Corporation), and even demanded an investigative committee be formed because of it. The Parliament met this demand and investigated the irregularities, mistakes, and deficiencies in the review of the Dominga project. Our employee Nancy Duman testified at the investigative committee and summarized her comments as follows:
- The applicant has presented a project that does not meet the minimum requirements in order to be assessed.
- During the review process, observations of governmental organizations with environmental competence were ignored.
- The document provided, and its enhancements or addenda do not contain sufficient information in order to allow for a correct environmental sustainability review.
- SEA should therefore have suggested a rejection and not a consent.
- The vote of the Commission took place with all of these aspects having being presented.
- Academics and research about the meaning of the archipelago and the coastal area of La Higuera was not taken into consideration, the opinion of scientific experts was not called upon (see also report from 15. May 2017).
The following question is therefore legitimate: what influence is responsible for these failures? Who exerted influence, so that the SEA (the agency responsible for reviewing environmental compatibility) recommended approval of the project, despite insufficient factual justification?
Marine Protection Area So Close and Yet So Far
La Serena, Landau 18. March 2018.
The marine protection area in northern Chile “Pinguino de Humboldt” (marine region of La Higuera-Isla Chañaral), was applied for over 10 years ago. The application is scientifically well-justified and should prevent the destruction of a globally meaningful ecosystem that is the main breeding area of the Humboldt Penguin. After much public participation, the population is currently in favor of a protection area and considers the project a chance for the La Higuera region to develop long-term in a sustainable manner.
The protection of this sensitive ecosystem in the Coquimbo Region has again and again conflicted with powerful economic interests. First a hotel, then three coal-fired power plants, and now multiple ports for the shipment of iron ore should be built, without any regard for the environment. In addition, the planned protection area does not fit with the development of a bi-oceanic corridor. The intended corridor should connect the Pacific with the Atlantic Oceans and requires huge port capacities, among other things in the La Higuera municipality.
World Penguin Day 2018
Landau, 5. February 2018
Sphenisco again calls for campaigns for the threatened Humboldt Penguin and its habitat, on the occasion of World Penguin Day on April 25th, as the most important breeding areas in northern Chile continue to be severely endangered.
The protests in the past years have resulted in noticeable successes. The regional government in Coquimbo and later the Bachelet government rejected the mining and port project from the company Andes Iron. The President of the Coquimbo Regional Government, Claudio Ibáñez, arranged to have the breeding islands Pajeros 1 and 2, Tilgo, Chungungo, Totoarillio declared governmental property. As a result of this, CONAF (the responsible Chilean Environmental Protection Agency) was able to apply to have this “new” property put under protection and have it integrated into the National Protection Area for the Humboldt Penguin. In January of this year, the Coquimbo Regional Government applied for the creation of a marine protection area with the Chilean Central Government. It is possible that the outgoing government of President Bachelet will still be able to pass a law creating this marine protection area.
Unfortunately, the new government under Sebastián Piñera (inauguration 11. March) has pronounced its support for the mining and port projects in the Coquimbo Region, and so puts the existence of a marine region of global importance again in question.
Sphenisco therefore calls for the campaigns “Gracias Consejo Consultivo” (starts 31. March) as well as the campaigns around World Penguin Day on 25. April (see attachments). Sphenisco asks all nature and environmental protectionists to support the battle for the habitat of the Humboldt Penguin with a personal thank you to Consejo Consultivo (the advisory body of the national protection area). Over the last 20 years, the advisory body has exemplarily and incorruptiblely advocated for the habitat of the Humboldt Penguin in northern Chile (see also article, Consejo Consultivo). With the campaign “Gracias Consejo Consultivo”, the dedicated activists in northern Chile should be thanked and further support pledged. Every “thank you” on Sphenico's homepage counts.
W.K.
translated by Erich Greiner
Attachments:
Invitation to World Penguin Day 2018 in .pdf format
Background and Meaning of the Ecosystem “La Higuera-Chañaral Island” in .pdf format
Marine Protection Area “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral” 2017 – A Chronology
Landau, 18. December 2017
For more than 20 years, industrial projects have repeatedly threatened the marine region “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral” in northern Chile, and with that also threaten the main breeding area of the Humboldt Penguin. A few years ago it was the coal-fired power plants Barrancones and Farellones that endangered this threatened penguin species, currently it is the Dominga mining and port project as well as the port project Cruz Grande, from the mining company CMP (Compañia Minera del Pacifico). The following chronology documents the events and successes in the battle for the habitat of the Humboldt Penguins and other threatened species in the year 2017:
January
- the previous year ends with a protest against the Dominga Project and the industrial port Totoralillo (see article from 10. December 2016).
- proceedings in the lawsuit from the citizens group MODEMA against the approval of the Cruz Grande project begin in Santiago.
February
- after numerous objections against “Dominga” as part of citizens participation, the SEA (the agency responsible for the environmental compatibility review), to the surprise of all, extends the period for the environmental review and calls on the participanting agencies to explain their opinions in a Fourth Addendum (see article from 2. February 2017).