Alto Loa National Reserve is a protected area located in the province of El Loa, Antofagasta region, Chile. Announced in 2002 and created in 2005, it is Chile's largest natural reserve.World Database on Protected Areas wdpa.org World Database on Protected Areas - 2014, retrieved on December 1, 2014
The reserve
Alto Loa is located at elevation between the communes of Ollagüe and Calama, northeast of Antofagasta. The total surface area of the reserve is approximately 300,000 hectares,Áreas protegidas en Chile (ES) mma.gob.cl | Jaime Rovira, David Ortega, Daniel Álvarez L. y Karin Molt, page 515 making it the largest natural reserve in Chile. The climate is desertic, with only precipitation a year and temperatures of maximum and minimum.Alto Loa Visit Chile ©2002-2012, VisitChile Reps. Todos los derechos reservados, retrieved on December 3, 2014 The main aim of the reserve is to protect the source of the Loa River (4,277 m altitude), and the vegetal and animal species that depend on the river ecosystem in an area of desert climate. Among the animal species can be found the guanaco, condor, viscacha and cougar. plant species include the tabaquillo or queñoa (Polylepis australis) and the yareta or llareta. Along with its native flora and fauna, Alto Loa is the home of three salt flats: San Martín or Carcote; Ascotán: and Ollagüe.CONAF Announces Creation of Alto Loa Natural Reserve Emol.com March 19, 2002, retrieved on December 3, 2014
Another of the park's objectives is to support the social and economic development of the local native communities through the operation of tourist concessions in the reserve."RED DE TURISMO RURAL LICANHUASI" (ES) San Pedro de Atacama - Chile - Sudamérica - © Derechos reservados a Sanpedroatacama.com, retrieved on December 2, 2014
The nearest settlement to the reserve is the small village of Ollagüe, and it is also close to the mining city of Calama.
Origins of Alto Loa
The reserve was officially created in 2005CARTA OFICIAL Nº 42/2013, ANTOFAGASTA, 28/08/2013 CONAF Alto Loa Reserva Nacional following 6 years of negotiation between the Regional Department of Agriculture (Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Agricultura), the Quechua community of Ollagüe, and the mining companies Codelco and SQM. The purpose of the reserve is to protect an area of 300 thousand hectares known as Alto Loa, which extends from the border with Bolivia in the northeast to the salt flats of Ascotán and Carcote in the southeast.
Large sections of the park, were previously given as concessions to mining companies and native communities for the exploitation of minerals and water. In order to form the natural reserve, the government had to reach an agreement with all concession holders. The agreement allows the mining companies to make use of the permits granted before the creation of the natural reserve while allowing the creation of a protected area for more than 250 vegetal species and 70 animal species.DIAGNOSTICO Y CLASIFICACION DE LOS CURSOS Y CUERPOS DE AGUA SEGUN OBJETIVOS DE CALIDAD Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Publicas de Chile) 2004, retrieved on December 16, 2014
The native communities
The "Consejo de Pueblos Atacameños" (Council of Atacama Peoples), the organization that represents the Atacama and Quechua people of the region, has been in constant dialogue with the government and the mining companies to highlight concerns about the mining work and the lack of protection of the wetlands, a flamingo nesting area.Alto Loa Icarito Icarito 2014, retrieved on December 16, 2014 There are three species nesting in the reserve: the Chilean, James and Andean flamingos. But the community has also communicated their satisfaction with what has been achieved in terms of ethno tourism. Although the reserve is administrated by CONAF, the Quechua community in Ollagüe, a town 205 km northeast of Calama, is responsible for developing tourism in the reserve, protecting its natural and cultural heritage, and administrating the land that they claim as their own.Alto el Loa atinachile.cl Taty Lopez, April 14, 2005, retrieved on December 1, 2014 Similar examples of native communities successfully running tourism efforts in the region's natural areas include Valle de la Luna, San Pedro de Atacama.
See also List of national parks of Chile CONAF
References