The Regional Ministerial Secretary of Mining in Aysén, Hans Zimmermann Dueñas, shared the key foundations and objectives of the Chelenko Geopark Project with Enrique Aliste Almuna, Vice Rector of Research and Development at the University of Chile, who visited the region alongside a delegation of geoscience academics.
The meeting took place at the University of Aysén (Universidad de Aysén) and included academics from the university, professionals from the FNDR Program «Productive Promotion of Geological Resources in the Aysén Region» (“Fomento Productivo Recursos Geológicos de la Región de Aysén”), and a delegation from the University of Chile’s Seismic Risk Program (Programa Riesgo Sísmico, PRS), composed of Jaime Campos, Julián Cortés, and Edgardo Santibañez.
“The proposal for a geopark in the Aysén Region represents enormous potential—scientific, economic, environmental, cultural, and social, among many other aspects that significantly encourage inter-institutional collaboration. As the University of Chile, and in line with our role as a public institution, we are thankful for this opportunity and fully willing to collaborate in the various areas where we have the knowledge and capability to serve the country,” stated Enrique Aliste Almuna, Vice Rector at the University of Chile.
“Through this action, we continue promoting coordination between the community and key institutions in research and knowledge development, in order to move forward with this long-awaited project, which will improve the quality of life of the region’s inhabitants and help protect scientifically significant geological sites,” added Hans Zimmermann Dueñas.
The Chelenko Geopark Project seeks to highlight the geological importance of the General Carrera Lakeshore (ribera del General Carrera) and to raise awareness and understanding of key issues facing society—such as the sustainable use of natural resources, climate change mitigation, and the reduction of risks from natural disasters.
This effort is aligned with the strategic focus of the Regional Mining Secretariat (Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Minería), which emphasizes deepening the knowledge and appreciation of geoheritage, and supports the development of the FNDR Program «Productive Promotion of Geological Resources in the Aysén Region», which aims to promote the non-extractive productive use of geological and paleontological resources.
Source: Canal Sur Patagonia