University of Concepción Establishes Mixed Advisory Council for Campus Naturaleza Project

In what signifies a momentous step for the future, the milestone of forming the Mixed Advisory Council for the Campus Naturaleza project at the University of Concepción was achieved. This council is part of the governance model in this stage of the initiative's execution. It includes participation from the university community and representatives of civil society, who will inform about the various facets of the project and also gather suggestions and concerns from their respective sectors.

During the event, Dr. Miguel Quiroga Suazo, Vice-Rector of Administrative Affairs and institutional sponsor of Campus Naturaleza, emphasized the significance of the occasion: "With a highly symbolic act, both internal and external organizations were represented with great enthusiasm. Undoubtedly, everyone recognizes the importance of this legacy that the university is currently establishing, not only for the region or the country, but for humanity."

He also highlighted that "nature conservation fundamentally involves humans, and undoubtedly, the connection with these vibrant organizations is crucial for the project's success," emphasized the UdeC Vice-Rector.

Dr. Ximena Gauché Marchetti, Vice-Rector for Institutional Relations and Community Engagement, expressed gratitude for the attendees and underscored the importance of Campus Naturaleza as "a space where the University of Concepción's three mission pillars—education, research, and community engagement—come together."

She added, "In the current scenario of global climate crisis and the pursuit of biodiversity conservation, which is one of the objectives of this project, strong support is required from the entire institution and various actors in the community of Concepción. For this reason, a participatory governance framework has been established, with its fundamental pillars rooted in our university's Engagement Model and Policy."

Dr. Cristian Echeverría Leal, Director of the Campus Naturaleza project at UdeC, emphasized, "Today marks an important step in the governance of Campus Naturaleza. Conservation cannot succeed without society's participation. This advisory council represents a valuable contribution to the project, as it will be a space for civic participation, where different perspectives converge with the common goal of contributing to the long-term protection of our biocultural heritage."

He further stressed, "As custodians of unique ecosystems in the country, Campus Naturaleza will be a window to contemplate our irreplaceable biodiversity. With an equitable and long-term perspective, the project not only aims to create a space for local biodiversity conservation and restoration but also aims to raise awareness about how much we depend on a healthy and restored nature."

Dr. Cristóbal Pizarro P, Deputy Director of the initiative, added, "The Mixed Advisory Council reflects our firm belief in the importance of involving society at every step of the process."

He pointed out, "In this initial stage, during the design and development of the Master Plan, the Mixed Advisory Council is inclusively composed. It includes two representatives from the internal university community and three representatives each from the social-community, political-public, productive, and cultural/educational sectors. This ensures a wide range of perspectives that will enrich the decisions made regarding the project."

Sebastián Parra Cabrera, Director of the Corporación Cultural Actos Sinestésicos, emphasized, "This is definitely progress. It has been hopeful to be part of this initial meeting, where we get to know the people who will support the project based on what we do in our respective fields."

"All this knowledge exchange aims to propose solutions to an issue—a forest that has been overlooked, currently intervened. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to act, and the university has taken on the responsible role of finally uniting this perspective to propose a multifaceted solution to a multifaceted problem," he added.

The first part of the activity took place in the Boardroom of the Vraea Building, symbolizing the solemnity of an act that constitutes a fundamental pillar of the Campus Naturaleza UdeC project. After signing the council's charter, attendees visited part of the project's involved lands, currently accessible only through guided tours.