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Challenges and Solutions


 

The Cape Horn Archipelago’s Sub-Antarctic Forest Biome is a spectacular biocultural treasure, which inspired the Declaration of Cape Horn in 2002.  Here, we not only find the world’s southernmost forested ecosystem, but an astounding landscape of bogs, ocean channels, fjords, glaciers, wildlife and flora.  Many species that inhabit the region are in fact rare, endemic or otherwise globally significant.  The Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) is the world’s largest remaining species of this bird family and is endemic to the temperate forests of southern South America.  Likewise, the cultural diversity and history of the region is unique and surprising.  The Yaghans maintained a nomadic canoeing culture in the tempestuous archipelago for 7,000 years.  In modern history Cape Horn has been a world-wide landmark for sailing, known as the largest ship graveyard.  For this special blending of social and biological importance it is necessary to speak of preserving this biocultural treasure.

 

Today, pressures and challenges exist that warrant a concerted strategy to conserve the region.  For many decades Cape Horn’s remoteness was sufficient to protect it.  Later it fell under the domain of the Chilean Navy and was a military reserve that permitted a de facto barrier against excessive exploitation and homogenization.  Now, however, we are presented with an opening of the archipelago as the military situation is normalized and “remote and pristine” becomes a scarce global resource that has a high value.  Consequently, economic pressures, such as salmon farming, and globalization forces, such as massive tourism, are coming to even the southernmost ends of the earth. 

 

This scenario challenges us to provide information that will allow for appropriate planning.  Information alone, however, is insufficient.  Therefore, we have identified a three-faceted strategy that includes Investigation, Education and Conservation.  Each area of emphasis relates to the other with the overall goal of integrating biocultural conservation with social wellbeing at the ends of the earth. 

 


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