Chile launches biodiversity conservation project

The Biodiversity Conservation Project (BCP) was officially launched in southern Chile, marking a new chapter in the country’s environmental protection efforts. This is reported by Cronica Digital, a partner of TV BRICS. 

The initiative focuses on rescuing the Huellelhue cove area in the Rio Negro commune of the Los Lagos region, home to a unique mollusc species vital to local culture and economy.

A collaboration between local indigenous communities, artisanal fishermen, and the Ministry of the Environment, the BCP enjoys technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project seeks to acknowledge the role of southern Chile’s coastal communities in environmental conservation and, at the same time, to offer concrete solutions for its sustainability.

Central to the programme is the restoration of the habitat for the choro zapato. As the largest member of its family, the choro zapato can reach up to 20 centimetres in length and thrives on rocky substrates at depths between four and 20 metres. 

“We are trying to protect this species and, at the same time, develop economic incentives to preserve it,” said Paloma Toranzos, UNDP representative in the initiative. The project operates along two lines, the first being regulation to set clear rules for environmental impacts and to ensure biodiversity protection. The other is the implementation of economic instruments to generate incentives and funding opportunities.

BRICS countries have also launched biodiversity protection initiatives. The UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, emphasised the need to enhance biodiversity to rejuvenate natural ecosystems and heal the planet. She praised the country’s efforts, centered on environmental preservation, cross-sector sustainable development, and nature-based solutions. This is reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.

India has presented its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), emphasising its pledge to strengthen agrobiodiversity, implement area-based conservation, and enhance ecosystem resilience. The revised plan aspires to create a unified international framework for addressing biodiversity loss, according to ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

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