<
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/dump-urban-wetland-wildlife-returns-river-chiles-capital-2022-11-02/>
'SANTIAGO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Birds, fish and flowers are returning to a river
that cuts through Chile's capital after a decade-long effort transformed it
from an eyesore filled with wastewater to an urban refuge for nature and
wildlife.
Mauricio Fabry, head of the regional government's environmental office, said it
is working with local districts to officially declare Santiago's Mapocho River
an urban wetland, with legal protections to safeguard environmental gains.
"The Mapocho River is probably the most important urban and environmental
landmark in Santiago's metropolitan region," Fabry said, adding that three of
the 16 localities along the river have already moved to protect it.
"I've seen we have birds of prey like peregrine falcons hunting in the river,
I've seen migratory birds like Franklin's gulls and there are more people
looking at the river," Fabry said.
He said the Mapocho used to be a "dead river" with garbage, a foul odor and no
vegetation. But he noted contamination and waste water have largely disappeared
over the last decade.'
Via
Future Crunch issue 190:
https://futurecrunch.com/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
