An insight from direct experience in the native forest was what academics from the University of Concepción took away. Professionals from various fields of university knowledge were convened as part of the Technical Advisory Committee, a body that will provide support and technical assistance on various research topics included in this unprecedented national initiative.

Appreciating and experiencing firsthand the native forest was the objective of the Technical Advisory Committee's visit to the grounds where the Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción project will be implemented. Academics and experts from different fields of university knowledge were able to understand the implications of this unprecedented project in Chile, which will focus on nature conservation, ecological restoration, human well-being, and mental health, among other areas.

The Technical Advisory Committee represents faculties and academic units that will provide support on research topics and technical assistance for this University of Concepción initiative. "This visit is very significant because the invited academics will be able to convey to their respective groups what we have as a university community and what they can contribute from their respective disciplines," says Dr. Cristian Echeverría L., Director of the Campus Naturaleza project.

In this regard, he adds, "It was a progress activity for our project, in which we expressed the purposes of the initiative and how it aligns with the university's strategic plan. The important thing is that the Technical Advisory Committee was able to firsthand experience what the project is about, through a tour of the heart of Campus Naturaleza, which is the remnants of native coastal forest that survive here, just minutes from the university," points out the UdeC academic.

Likewise, as part of the activity, Dr. Paula Aravena A., Veterinarian, Director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the University of Concepción, states that "I find this initiative and commitment very interesting because it involves many managers from different faculties and different perspectives, which is something that is not usually done in any instance at the national or international level. In general, decisions are made by some nuclei of professionals, but here there is an interactive link where we all work together to move this forward as what it is, a multidiverse ecosystem, from the soil to the animals, through all vegetation."

"Wildlife today has limitations for its mobilization and maintenance. Places like this that not only harbor native vegetation but also native wildlife are very important to maintain the ecosystem balance of the country and to withstand global climate change," adds the faculty member and researcher from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences.

Natural Laboratory

Expressing his positive view of the activity, Dr. Ronald Mennickent C., Director of Research and Artistic Creation at the University of Concepción, says, "This is a project with great expectations for multidimensional development, which also touches on many aspects related to conservation, linking with the environment, research, and conservation of threatened native species at this time."

"This is a natural laboratory, an opportunity for the institution to project itself from now to 5, 10, 20 years ahead, with a great impact not only scientific, for its intrinsic value in research, but also with an impact on our natural and social environment, because the project can also educate new generations. So, that is of primary importance, as it is a heritage not only of the University of Concepción but of our region. I believe it is essential to incorporate complementary perspectives that allow making much more informed and comprehensive decisions, because nowadays we are much more aware that we have to coexist with nature in a wise way, thinking that we have a planet to inhabit sustainably," he emphasizes.

On the other hand, Ángel Oñate, academic from the Faculty of Biological Sciences, comments that although the project is just beginning, there are good intentions from the university towards the community by preserving these native forest areas within the grounds, which need to be cared for. "The good thing is that here, species that are endangered will be created and preserved," highlights the professional.

The Technical Advisory Committee is part of the technical consultation bodies of the Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción project, included within its governance model. This body will provide academic support for the initiative and will materialize the support of experts in various fields of university knowledge.

Christopher Anderson, IIBPES Associate Professor

“Las especies invasoras exóticas son uno de los cinco principales impulsores de la pérdida de biodiversidad”. La sentencia, hizo noticia hace unas semanas como parte del informe de la Plataforma Intergubernamental Científico-Normativa sobre Diversidad Ecológica y Servicios de los ecosistemas (IPBES).

IPBES is a multilateral institution formed by governments. It was established in 2012 to bring together countries interested in addressing the relationship between knowledge and regulations regarding biodiversity and ecosystem services. It is a platform that connects countries and their needs through reports and actions, synthesizing and accumulating information to make it accessible.

The Biologist and Doctor in Evolutionary Ecology, Christopher Anderson, is an associate of IPBES and 'comments that it was conceived as a platform to link science with decision-making, but in reality, it's knowledge, not just science. Science is a form of knowledge, and mechanisms have been rightly generated to value not only indigenous knowledge but also local knowledge, which encompasses ancestral practices and wisdom of their territories,' states the academic, who was invited within the framework of a Fondecy project led by Dr. Cristóbal Pizarro P., Deputy Director of the Campus Naturaleza Project at the University of Concepción and principal investigator at the Laboratory of Anthropocene Studies."

Paradigm shift

The flippers of a penguin are similar to those of a fish not because they share genetics, but because they solved the same problem in the same way; it's like evolution sometimes leads to the same solution through different lines." Convergent evolution is the concept Anderson uses to refer to how encouraging it is to identify the current paradigm shift occurring in different areas, one that integrates humans with the natural environment

This aspect hasn't always been this way. 'The paradigm shift is relatively new; even most of today's public conservation policies still conceive nature as something we have to protect but also exclude from humans. Even in a meeting a few years ago, the United States government, represented by the Trump administration, objected that when talking about biodiversity, social issues were also brought up, saying that social issues have nothing to do with it, why are we talking about social equity,' recalls the researcher from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and the National University of Tierra del Fuego, both located in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

After Your Arrival in Concepción, Do You Think the Campus Naturaleza Project Aligns with These New Paradigms You Mentioned Earlier?

“"Yes, for me, it is totally consistent. In this case, it demonstrates that this paradigm shift is not just occurring among decision-makers at the national or international level, but also locally and not always for the same reasons. The integration of nature as part of the campus (Campus Patrimonial UdeC), as part of the city, or as part of health is a matter of unification that can be seen wherever one goes."

He adds, "It is a reconceptualization that nature is an aid to achieving goals and not a hindrance. And well, the same thing happens here. Wherever you go, you basically see this, and in all spheres, from economic to cultural; it is no longer just the simple vision of conservationists hugging trees, but knowledge that is being considered at all levels. For some, it is an economic matter, for others, health is increasingly relevant, or cultural vindication, but most importantly, decision-making is being democratized for different reasons."

Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción is a unique initiative at the national level. In the current context of climate change, the project places nature as the compass of its actions.

The objective is the conservation of areas of high biodiversity value, where ecological restoration and scientific research actions will be carried out. In addition, in the future, the community will have a relevant role, participating in cultural, educational and recreational activities.

Carrying out one of its priority axes, the biodiversity conservation initiative, unique in the country, began its guided tour program. This will be the only official way to get to know part of the project's land, which seeks to promote the benefits that permanent contact with nature generates for humans.

The welcoming call of the chucao bird greets visitors arriving from various places, not too far away; in fact, just 15 minutes separate the city of Concepción from one of the last remnants of native coastal forest still surviving in this region of the country.

Neighbors, representatives from environmental organizations, and the community at large are here as part of the outreach efforts of the Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción project; a visit to the heart of a groundbreaking initiative in Chile, aimed at conserving the biodiversity of an area inhabited by naranjillos, pitao, and Araucanian michai, which also serves as home to the pudú deer, rose-colored frog, guiña cat, and tiger crab, among others. These 7 species, both arboreal and animal, are endangered.

Like the forests that take their time to grow at the pace of living ecosystems, Campus Naturaleza is a project to be executed in different stages over the years. After its implementation, this area adjacent to the Universidad de Concepción main campus will be made accessible to the community with high standards of protection, environmental education, and a network of established trails, among other aspects, fulfilling the objective set by the Concepción university; to propose a new form of interaction between humans and nature, transformed into a biocultural legacy, not only for the Concepción community but also for the country and the planet.

Ximena Gauché Marchetti, Vice-Rector for Institutional Relations and Community Engagement at Universidad de Concepción, notes, "One of the defined lines in the Institutional Strategic Plan of the Universidad de Concepción is Sustainable Development, an aspect that transcends the environmental to embed itself in every facet of the institution's activities. This, together with our public, civic, and centenary nature, which has promoted community engagement since the university's founding, encompasses all the mission areas of the institution, with Campus Naturaleza representing a new space to manifest this work."

Biodiversity Conservation

The tree species currently present on the project land correspond to the last vestiges of what was once the Concepción Deciduous Forest, a unique and irreplaceable ecosystem, a transition between the species that inhabit the central and southern areas of the country.

The initiative will not only conserve 25 hectares of these relict forests and 17 hectares of aquatic ecosystems but will also execute ecological restoration actions in areas covered by exotic species such as eucalyptus, pines, and acacias. eucaliptus, pinos y aromos.

Dr. Cristian Echeverría Leal, Director of the Campus Naturaleza project at Universidad de Concepción, states, "We are not only working to create a space for the conservation and restoration of local biodiversity but also to raise awareness among people about how much we depend on a healthy and restored nature. Currently, the stability of many of our socio-ecological systems is at stake. Our landscapes are moving away from resilience and from meeting current and future human needs."

"That's why having a unique window to contemplate our invaluable biodiversity through an initiative where science is the cornerstone and social connection the heart of the project is crucial," he emphasizes.

Among the project's key actions is the ex-situ conservation of biodiversity through the establishment of a botanical garden containing living collections of Chilean plants, following international standards. "We will begin by establishing the first living collection of the three endemic and endangered Nothofagus trees in South America, found only in Chile: ruil, hualo, and Santiago oak,"

Key Pillar

Similarly, Dr. Cristóbal Pizarro Pinochet, Project Co-Director, explains that the socio-environmental aspect is one of the priority axes. "It involves social connection and biocultural environmental education, where we aim to reconnect people with nature through educational, recreational, and healthy activities. All of this brings multiple benefits to people. Outreach activities are the human heart of Campus Naturaleza and must be conducted with ethical sense and respect, safeguarding fragile ecosystems that also need to be restored and cared for by the entire community. In this regard, we project that citizen science and art-science will support us in generating not only education but also awareness for their care."

He also highlights that "the initial approaches with the community give us an encouraging sign that we can count on the support and synergy of neighbors, educational centers, community organizations, socio-environmental entities, and government bodies. We are establishing progressive and transparent participation mechanisms to integrate the knowledge of different community actors who value this space and nature," concludes the UdeC academic.

One of the concrete actions within these engagement mechanisms is guided tours. These activities will take place once a month, with approximately 20 spots available, aiming to take people to explore the relic coastal forest surviving on the grounds owned by UdeC.

While it is a private area, the forest and open-air environment have attracted cyclists, mountain runners, and individuals interested in fungi, birds, fauna, and biodiversity in general for years. Among this latter group is Francisca Pedreros, Environmental Engineer and member of the NGO La Escalera; after the activity, she commented that she learned about the project in May and finds it very necessary these days. "It's something that already exists, and it's very important that together we can manage this place properly, so it doesn't continue to erode and can be maintained over time, which is also the idea behind the project," she stresses.

All information about visits will be published on the social networks of the Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción project @campusnaturalezaudec. It is important to consider that, due to the fragility of the ecosystems present in the place, visits with pets are not contemplated, since the presence of domestic animals can alter these habitats and the fauna that depend on them. Likewise, the areas will remain with restricted access, being, then, guided tours the only official way to get to know part of the project lands.