ChileEcosystem restoration · Flood
In Llanquihue (Los Lagos Region), the Legado Chile Foundation, created by young professionals, faces flooding due to extreme rains by restoring degraded urban wetlands with green infrastructure that restores the soil's ability to absorb water. It transformed micro-gardens into socio-ecological parks, removed more than 900 tons of garbage, planted more than 6,000 native trees and trained the community with the Naturalist School program.
In Llanquihue (Los Lagos Region), the Legado Chile Foundation, created by young professionals, faces flooding due to extreme rains by restoring degraded urban wetlands with green infrastructure that restores the soil's ability to absorb water. It transformed micro-gardens into socio-ecological parks, removed more than 900 tons of garbage, planted more than 6,000 native trees and trained the community with the Naturalist School program.
Chile meets 7 of the 9 climate vulnerability criteria of the UNFCCC. The country faces a prolonged megadrought, heat waves and high-impact forest fires that affect from the Metropolitan Region to the far south, and increasing pressure on its water resources. Furthermore, the degradation of urban wetlands, peat bogs and pompons weakens their function of absorbing water in the face of intense rains.
Recover the ecological functionality of urban wetlands and degraded aquatic ecosystems, strengthen the water resilience of local communities and promote a culture of socio-environmental conservation through water-sensitive urban design, participatory management and outdoor environmental education.
Implementation of the Llanquihue Urban Wetland Conservation Plan (focused on Baquedano, El Loto, Los Helechos and Teodosio Sarao) and the Maullín River basin, through the restoration of native vegetation on riverbanks, eradication of micro-gardens and installation of green infrastructure (trails and viewpoints). It includes the "Naturalist School" pedagogical program in local schools and public-private coordination for the declaration of Nature Sanctuaries.
Urban and rural communities of Llanquihue (~17,000 inhabitants), Pargua and the Maullín River basin, along with hundreds of students and teachers from public schools and neighbors adjacent to the urban wetlands.
The foundation was created by a team of young professionals between 27 and 28 years old. Boys, girls and young people participate through the Naturalist School program, volunteer days of reforestation with native flora, wetland cleanups and educational contests.
Socio-ecological recovery of key wetlands such as Baquedano and El Loto in Llanquihue, with more than 900 tons of garbage removed and more than 6,000 native trees planted; preparation of the Water Sensitive Urban Design Guide (DUS) for rainwater; promotion of the declaration of the Maullín River Nature Sanctuary; and involvement of students and volunteers in training and community conservation days.
Verónica Irarrázabal González (contacto@legadochile.cl), Fundación Legado Chile. Website: https://legadochile.cl/ ; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legadochile/
Mixed
In Llanquihue and the Maullín River basin, unplanned urbanization has destroyed more than 90% of urban wetlands since 1962, filling them with garbage. This eliminated natural sponges in the face of intense rainfall, causing recurrent flooding, severe loss of freshwater biodiversity, and deterioration of the river ecosystem in the face of extreme weather events.
Chile enacted Law No. 21,202 on Urban Wetlands (2020) and the Climate Change Framework Law (2022), which provide key legal tools to protect water ecosystems. The Urban Wetlands Law allows municipalities to request recognition of these wetlands and protect them in territorial planning, aligning urban development with nature-based adaptation.
Joint work in a tripartite alliance between Fundación Legado Chile, the Illustrious Municipality of Llanquihue and the Ministry of the Environment, adding the Local Public Education Service (SLEP), private companies (Cummins, Patagonia, Banco Internacional), the local neighborhood association and academic organizations for the co-execution of projects.
Enabling factors include the entry into force of the Urban Wetlands Law, strong municipal support, and philanthropic and business financing. The historical pressure of real estate speculation on vulnerable lands, previous illegal landfills and the need for sustained financing for long-term community maintenance and supervision are identified as conditioning factors.
Creation of green public spaces that promote well-being and mental health, increase in birdlife and native flora, integration of environmental education in the school curriculum through outdoor classrooms, and promotion of nature and local heritage tourism.
High scalability. The Wetland Parks and urban green infrastructure model, based on the 'Open Standards for Conservation Practice', is completely replicable in other intermediate cities in southern Chile and Latin America with degraded water bodies.
It is supported by the legal protection offered by the Urban Wetlands Law, the push for the declaration of the Maullín River Nature Sanctuary, co-management with the municipality, neighborhood appropriation and the permanent incorporation of local schools in the care of the environment.
Legado Chile Foundation (official site): https://legadochile.cl/; Llanquihue Conservation Plan: https://legadochile.cl/proyectos/; DUS Guide to Green Infrastructure and Stormwater: https://legadochile.cl/recursos/