BIOFIN policy analysis in Chile helps identify how land use changes impact biodiversity

On 12th of August a news from UNDP Chile written by Pilar Zapata Coloma, communications officer of BIOFIN Chile, highlighted the role of BIOFIN in the analysis of land use and biodiversity in the country. Here is a short translation in English and you can find the original text in spanish here PNUD Chile.

There is no place in nature with a higher species concentration than in soils. Soil ecosystem are of such importance that they have been incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly in Goal 15, aiming “combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030”. Chile, as a member country of the UN, committed to the SDGs. But how is the current soil situation in Chile?

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) implemented by UNDP Chile, compiled a report with a series of data on the soil status in the country. According to the Information Center of Natural Resources (CIREN), 49% of the total soil available in Chile face some type of erosion and 36.8 million hectares are over exploited.  The principal anthropic factor accountable for terrestrial ecosystems degradation is land-use change (Ministry of Environment, 2015), to which various economic activities have contributed.

Forest Expansion
The growth of forestry in Chile has put pressure on its biodiversity, both at the level of species (monocultures) and soil erosion. The pressure is mainly related to the expansion of plantations promoted by the Forest Bonus Program (1974) and the exploitation of native timber. According to the Ministry of Environment, from 1999 to 2011 the area of forest plantations increased by about 40% and many of them replaced native secondary forests. When the program expired in 2012, the Law on Native Forest Recovery and Forestry (2008) was enacted. This law restricts logging of native forest to the prior approval of a management plan by the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF). Another positive development comes from the private sector that adheres to environmental certification systems. According to data from the Chilean Wood Corporation, 70% of current national forest plantation is certified.

Agricultural intensification
Another stress factor on Chile’s biodiversity is the expansion of agriculture and livestock in recent decades. The agricultural frontier generated by avocado production exceeded in 2015, 265% of the original surface of 1990; and the area of vineyards, had increased in 2014 by 38% from the original surface in 1976 (Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies; Agriculture and Livestock Service, 2014).

Pressure from cities
Although this is by far the type of land-use with less surface area in the country, the use of urban land has experienced significant growth: from 112,000 hectares dedicated in 1984 to over 277,000 in 2007 – an equivalent growth of 247% of the surface of the base year (1984).

Contribution of soil
Given this situation, the country faces major challenges in terms of restoring and protecting soils. Along with storing and filtering water, soils are key in providing food and subsistence of life. Its ability to absorb carbon is also a vital contribution to mitigating climate change. It forms the basis of vegetation that is cultivated for the production of fodder, fiber, fuel and medicinal products.

Its role is essential for the survival of life and yet, it is estimated that globally one third of the land cover is already degraded, a figure that in Chile reaches half of its surface. The soils are home to a quarter of the biodiversity of our planet and its conservation is essential to Chile’s sustainable development.

Foto: Viñedo en Puente Alto, F. Sánchez, bajo licencia CC.