Chile Nature Fund provides funding for effective conservation projects in marine protected areas in Juan Fernández

In a meeting held on Monday, December 1st, with organizations and institutions of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, together with Senator and Vice President of the Senate Board of Directors, Ricardo Lagos Weber; the mayor of Juan Fernández, Pablo Manríquez; and representatives of various institutions, Fondo Naturaleza Chile - Chile Nature Fund presented a certificate for each of the projects for the implementation of the Integrated Annual Operating Plan (POA) 2025 for the marine protected areas of the Juan Fernández Archipelago and the Fondo Naturaleza Chile Marine Protected Areas Program.

The Annual Operating Plan (POA) is an instrument that was developed after nearly a year of work among various stakeholders, supported by Fondo Naturaleza Chile. It stemmed from a joint analysis of the Management Plan for the Multiple-Use Marine Coastal Protected Area (AMCP-MU) and the General Management Plans for the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas Marine National Parks. This collaboration allowed for the coordination of efforts, the leveraging of synergies, and the optimization of human and financial resources. Its development was participatory and consensual, with strong involvement from the local community.

The final version of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) was unanimously approved by the General Assembly of the Juan Fernández Marine Conservation Organization (OCF) earlier this year and subsequently ratified by the Local Management Council (CLG) on March 27. At its meeting on June 3, the CLG approved FNC funding for nine initiatives that mark the beginning of the plan's implementation. Five of these have already been awarded, two are in the awarding process, and two are receiving direct funding .

The applications were evaluated by a technical committee external to Fondo Naturaleza Chile, ensuring a transparent, objective and participatory process, and all of them complement ongoing or planned actions, and respond to the priorities established in the POA.

With these projects, Fondo Naturaleza Chile reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Chile's marine protected areas through the Marine Protected Areas Program, in full accordance with its management and operational plans, promoting participatory and sustainable management, supporting local organizations and reinforcing the role of the community in the conservation of its ecosystems.

---

Project details:

• Education for marine conservation

1. Connecting Community and Sea: Environmental Education for Marine Conservation on Alejandro Selkirk Island – Alejandro Selkirk Island Fishing Village Development Committee: $14,989,000 CLP

2. Design and implementation of a locally relevant education program for the Juan Fernández commune – Functional Community Organization Mar de Juan Fernández: $15,000,000 CLP

3. Shore school: barefoot – Functional Organization Robinsonian Youth (JURO): Local Network of Biosphere Reserves: $12,280,000 CLP

4. Cohabiting marine protected areas. Co-creation of a guide to good practices for nautical activities and recreational fishing in the Juan Fernández Archipelago – Union of independent workers and artisanal fishermen of the Juan Fernández Archipelago (STIPA-JF): $57,000,000 CLP

5. Marine Research Program. Dreams and Leadership from Juan Fernández: First comprehensive scientific research program for the conservation of a large marine protected area in Chile – University of Concepción: $40,000,000 CLP

   

   

   

   

   

   

In addition, there are two directly allocated projects :

6. Implementation of the capacity-building program for the management and administration of the marine protected areas of the Juan Fernández archipelago. Amount: $18,000,000. Direct allocation to the Juan Fernández Sea Functional Community Organization

7. Action plan for invasive alien species (IAS) . Total amount: $60,000,000. Direct allocation to Island Conservation. Finally, there are two projects under evaluation that will be awarded soon:

8. Monitoring program: will allow us to assess whether we are achieving conservation goals and adjust our strategies along the way.

9. Protection plan for sites of high ecological value : identifies and safeguards critical areas of reproduction, nesting and resting, ensuring that they can coexist with human activities.

Photo and video credits: Germán Recabarren for Fondo Naturaleza Chile