Centro de Estudios para la
Conservación de Ecosistemas Marinos
Environmental education
Our approach to environmental education emulates this famous quote attributed to Baba Dioum. Environmental education provides a formative process by which a better awareness of the natural world and its importance to human wellbeing can be developed from an early age. Learning about the natural world and our place within it helps to promote appreciation and understanding of values and attitudes that contribute to a sustainable use of natural resources and the solution of human-caused environmental and economic problems. The lack of information about the local environment, its importance and the consequences of unsustainable practice as well as the loss of traditional cultural values have been some of the principal obstacles for viable and long-term conservation initiatives in the Chiloé region.
“In the end we will conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught”
quote by B. Dioum
Recommended videos
The different research topics of our project are linked closely with our environmental education themes. We aim to
* increase local knowledge and awareness about the marine environment and the importance of those coastal waters for special (endemic) species such as Chilen dolphins.
* raise awareness and reduce occurrence of directed or accidental (indirect) takes in fishing gear.
* reduce contamination by promoting recycling, waste reduction and correct rubbish disposal.
* promote sustainable use of marine resources.
Under the banner of Yaqu Pacha Chile we have been working with local schools and communities since 2003. Activities involve giving presentations and holding educational seminars in kindergardens, primary and high schools, hosting children holiday courses, organising community beach clean-ups, delivering educational workshops to stakeholders, and working with decision-making groups on coastal zoning and eco-tourism development.
Our Yaqu Pacha Chile team also undertakes scientific communication and outreach activities using a variety of media - print such as magazine articles and posters, books, radio interviews and educational short videos.
An important element of all outreach activities is building and enhancing capacity by training students from Chile and elsewhere in research methods and conservation via our internship programme. Some of our interns then go on to become our students and future colleagues. We also help build ccommunity capacity by training local tour operators in responsible wildlife viewing and best viewing practice.
We have also recently begun a collaboration with Dr Irma Morales and students on assessing the value and effectiveness of education and outreach activities.
New book about Chilean dolphin by Carla Christie!
Download drawings and paint them in your school !
Peale's dolphin
Burmeister's porpoise
Chilean dolphin
Marine otter
Newspaper reports!
Southern river otter
South American sea lion
Download your IDENTIFICATION CARDS ! (FIPA 2018-41 Project)
Here, you can download the identification cards of 7 odontocetes that can be observed in central and southern Chile. This work is part of the FIPA 2018-41 Project "Interaction of the Chilean dolphin with fishing and aquaculture activities":
Outreach poster (Spanish) of the Chiloé Small Cetacean Poject
