Environmental Policy and Challenges in the Coquimbo Region

Posted on Dec 8, 2024 in Geography

Characteristics of the Coquimbo Region’s Landscape

The Coquimbo Region’s landscape is characterized by the following:

An arid landscape dominated by low and erratic rainfall, interrupted by transverse valleys which provide water, soil, and climate conditions suitable for farming.
Four distinct territorial units: High Mountain, Middle Mountain, Coastlines, and Transverse Valleys. The coastal strip and the side valleys host the majority of the population and economic activities.
A semi-arid climate influenced by terrain and atmospheric conditions, with increasing winter precipitation from north to south.
Presence of microclimates, such as the El Tofo fields north of the Rio Elqui and the Talinay Heights north of the Rio Limari, where a fog trap effect occurs due to coastal cliffs.
Cloudy mornings and nights with “camanchaca” (coastal fog) in La Serena and Coquimbo. Lower temperatures in the western sector of the region, in the Andean foothills, due to altitude and snow.

Regional Geomorphology

Four systems are present from west to east:

Coastal Plains: Flat land extending latitudinally from the coastal border, reaching up to 30 kilometers wide in some areas.
Cordillera de la Costa
Transverse Valleys: Attractive sights in the region, mostly composed of alluvial sediments, ideal for crops.
Andes

Water Resources

The major rivers defining the transverse valleys from north to south are the Rio Elqui, Rio Limari, and Rio Choapa. They have a nivo-pluvial regime, fed by winter rainfall and Andean snowmelt in summer, along with contributions from streams along their routes.

Impacts on Soil and Vegetation

Mining, agriculture, and livestock have altered the region’s soil and vegetation. Industrial areas are located in major population centers (Coquimbo, La Serena), while agricultural sectors are found from the side valleys to the coastal plains, especially near major rivers. Areas in the Andes above 3,000 meters above sea level lack vegetation due to low temperatures.

Major Environmental Challenges in the Coquimbo Region

Deterioration of Natural Resources

Desertification associated with overuse of resources (throughout the Coquimbo Region).
Erosion due to overgrazing (dry areas, especially in La Higuera, Combarbalá, and Punitaqui, as well as the southern interfluve sector: Canela, Salamanca, and Illapel).
Decreased benthic biota (limpets, abalone, clams, sea urchins, etc.) due to overextraction (particularly between Tongoy Bay and Conchalí Bay).
Water deficit (throughout the region, especially in the medium mountain system in the northern sector of semi-arid watersheds, excluding areas near regulated rivers).
Depletion of renewable natural resources from rainfed agricultural activities (semi-arid watersheds, including Combarbalá and Punitaqui).
Depletion of non-renewable natural resources due to mining (La Higuera, Vicuña, Andacollo, and Illapel).

Pollution Phenomena

Pollution of rivers, creeks, and streams from mining waste disposal (particularly in the Illapel River Basin, Choapa, Hurtado River tributary of the Limari River, Marquesa gorge in the lower Elqui River, and La Hermosa and Negritos in Andacollo).
Pollution from unregulated tourism (emerging phenomenon impacting the entire region, especially beaches from Los Vilos to Totoralillo).
Water contamination by chemicals in areas of intensive agriculture (vineyards) and garbage (especially in Monte Patria, Rio Hurtado, Punitaqui, and Combarbalá).
Contamination of coastal waters by various actors (La Serena, Coquimbo, and Los Vilos).
Inappropriate management of industrial aggregate extraction in main basins (La Serena, Monte Patria, Salamanca, and Los Vilos).

Deterioration of the Built Environment

Poor housing quality in rural and marginal areas (specific areas in all communes).
Inappropriate solid waste disposal and treatment systems (especially in localities with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants).
Poor infrastructure for water resource accumulation and conduction (in the Elqui River, especially the Choapa).
Inappropriate territorial planning (inappropriate location of industrial zones in major urban centers and poor rural incorporation into territorial planning).
Inadequate sewage treatment plants (various locations throughout the region).
Lack of final disposal sites and systems for industrial solid waste treatment (entire region).

Foundations and Principles of Regional Environmental Policy

Fundamentals

Quality of Life: Sustainable development means sustainable and equitable improvement in people’s quality of life, based on appropriate conservation and environmental protection measures. This includes natural and social aspects, such as the workplace environment, housing, culture, and heritage.
Complementarity between Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability: Economic growth must be compatible with environmental preservation to ensure resources are available in quantity and quality.
Social Equity and Overcoming Poverty: Sustainable development aims to integrate social goals with economic and environmental goals, pursuing greater equity. It is integral to the fight against poverty. Social equity refers to equal opportunities in accessing development benefits and a dignified life. All citizens should have equal opportunity to live in a clean and healthy environment.

Principles

Environmentally Sustainable Public Policy: This policy involves all public administration sectors, requiring coordination between national, regional, and local levels. Economic, social, cultural, and other policies should harmonize their objectives and activities with environmental policy.
Roles of the State and the Private Sector: The private sector plays a key role in national economic development and has a significant responsibility in ensuring environmental sustainability. It can contribute through careful use of natural resources, application of best available technologies, and introduction of environmentally sound practices. The State ensures efficient and timely public services, promoting sound environmental practices, developing tools to stabilize and monitor compliance by the private sector.
Citizen Participation: Environmental management must be legitimate, transparent, and socially agreed upon. This is only possible by considering the interests and concerns of the local community, workers, social organizations, productive sectors, academia, NGOs, and other focus groups.
Sustainability: The country’s development has been based primarily on the exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. We must know and respect the limits of their use to avoid depletion or incorporate technologies for more intensive use. Future generations also have the right to use and enjoy the environment and natural resources.
Responsibility of the Insured: Those responsible for environmental degradation should repair the damage to the community or those affected and restore the deteriorated environmental component.
Prevention: Overcoming environmental damage, once produced, is more costly and less effective than preventive measures. Some environmental damage can be repaired, although it may require sophisticated technologies and significant financial resources. In some cases, the damage is irreparable, such as extinct species.
Stability: Laws, rules, and other messages from the authority must be clear, consistent, and sustained over time, ensuring the confidence of social and economic actors in the legal framework within which environmental management is developed.
Gradualism and Continuous Improvement: Environmental problems are the result of decades of social behavior and public policy where the environment was not a significant aspect of development. Reversing environmental damage and seeking a balance between economic development and environmental conservation must be gradual.
Improving the System: The consolidation and improvement of the environmental management model involve continuous evaluation and refinement of legislation, mechanisms, and instruments. Proper articulation of national, regional, and local levels should be ensured through training, maintenance, and improvement of responsible human resources. Citizen participation in evaluating the system and suggesting improvements is a significant contribution to modernization efforts.
Responsibility to the International Community: The international community has signed agreements and treaties to reverse problems and improve future environmental quality. Regional environmental policy must acknowledge these commitments and make them its own, contributing to international solidarity.

Overall Objective of the Regional Environmental Policy

Promoting environmental sustainability in the development process to improve citizens’ quality of life, ensuring an environment free from pollution, environmental protection, nature preservation, and conservation of environmental assets.

Specific Objectives of Regional Policy

Restore and Improve Environmental Quality

Promoting actions (education, monitoring, standards, monitoring plans, and policies) that safeguard people’s health, natural resources, and cultural heritage.

Decontamination and recovery of acceptable air quality levels.
Decontamination and recovery of water resource quality for different uses.
Conservation and recovery of soil quality.
Establish policies and improve waste management standards.

Prevent Environmental Damage

Integrating environmental considerations into preventive planning processes and decision-making on production and consumption activities.

Environmental impact assessment of investment projects.
Development of a regional program to address environmental contingencies and manage hazardous substances.
Incorporating the environmental dimension of land management in the Coquimbo Region.
Environmental education.
Scientific and technological research.

Promote Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Establish and improve standards and measures for prevention, management, and sustainable use of natural resources, contributing to State policy formulation, safeguarding environmental, natural, and cultural assets.

Establish a strategy to protect biodiversity in the Coquimbo Region.
Develop bases for sustainable management of watersheds and water resources.
Protect coastal and ocean resources.
Protect soil resources and regional vegetation.
Protect the regional Andean region.
Protect the atmosphere and skies of the Coquimbo Region.
Protect cultural heritage in the Coquimbo Region.

Incorporate Environmental Considerations into the Productive Sector

Define and implement sustainable policies, both at individual production units, regardless of scale or size, and by production type.

Promote internationally accepted environmental quality standards for regional products and production processes.
Design and adopt an environmental certification system.
Promote Cleaner Production Policy.
Promote business associations, links with other regions and countries, especially the northern provinces of Argentina, and cooperation with other social classes in the region.

Engage Citizens in Environmental Management

Strengthen citizen involvement within the framework established by Law No. 19,300, featuring state responsibility in various forums and tools: System of Environmental Impact Assessment, prevention and decontamination plans, enactment of environmental regulations, liability for environmental damage, and representativeness in environmental competition bodies.

Consolidate agencies for citizen participation.
Strengthen the role of advisory councils to represent citizens’ interests and support the creation and strengthening of other community bodies with environmental purposes.
Environmental education for regional citizen involvement.
Promote the Environmental Protection Fund and other funds for environmental organizations.

Strengthen Environmental Institutions

Strengthen regional bodies and institutions with environmental competence to enhance management, expand the scope and coverage of information generated, and improve coordination, human resource management, and financial and material resources.

Strengthen the Regional Environmental Commission (COREMA).
Strengthen the coordinating role of the Regional CONAMA and COREMA.
Strengthen Regional Environmental Management.
Improve sectoral and regional audit capacity.

Improve Environmental Legislation and Develop New Management Tools

Support the improvement of environmental legislation based on implementation experience in the Coquimbo Region, and develop standards, ordinances, instruments, and indicators at the regional and/or community level.

Provide inputs for the improvement of environmental regulations.
Promote the development of environmental standards and regional and municipal ordinances.
Develop tools and environmental indicators.