Urgent: Ecologist Belén Gallardo Highlights Importance of Mediterranean Flora Conservation in Chile
But what does it mean for your city and the future of biodiversity?
In breaking news for environmental and urban ecology enthusiasts, Belén Gallardo, a prominent researcher at the Language and Creation Core, has been at the forefront of raising awareness on the significance of Mediterranean flora and fauna conservation.
Mediterranean Flora Workshop Connects People with Native Ecosystems
The workshop “An Approach to Ecosystems and the Mediterranean Flora,” held at the Dominican Recoleta Patrimonial Center, brought attendees closer to the native flora and fauna. It featured contributions from Josefina Hepp, an Agricultural Engineer and Executive Director of the Chilco Foundation, as well as Paloma Espinoza from Botanical Perfumery.
Gallardo shared her excitement after the workshop, emphasizing its importance: “Seeing how people begin to connect with a simple bold leaf, which many only know as something that is put in the water, and then understand all its dimension; the ravine, its history, its ecosystem, that is what excites me. And to be able to share that emotion with others, it was really significant.”
The Integration of Biological Conservation in Urban Areas
Gallardo’s study focused on integrating biological conservation areas within urban environments, aiming to connect these areas into a continuous “ecological matrix” within cities. “I am a forest ecologist, but I am currently opening lines of research in urban ecology,” said Gallardo.
“More than seeing the city and nature as opposites, I think they are part of a continuous gradient. There is no blunt division between the urban and the natural. During the last 10 years, my work has focused on studying Canadians, there are still native ecosystems, such as the sclerophilic forest of the San Cristóbal hill, with endemic species that only grow in this area of the world,” she added.
Sensory Aroma Experience Sparks Ecological Awareness
Following Gallardo’s presentation, the workshop offered a sensory experience centered around aromas. This aimed not only to activate participants’ personal memories but also their ecological memory. The experience served as a reflection on the loss of ecosystems and the corresponding loss of memories on a geological scale.
“It was an open instance of linking with the medium, where three investigations were intertwined,” remarked Gallardo. “The Mediterranean forest, present in the central-southern area of Chile, is one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, and only 1% of its surface is protected in protected areas as national parks or reserves. Therefore, it is essential that people not only know this reality in theoretical terms but also have the opportunity to experience it directly, recognizing that these ecosystems are present in the hills that surround us.”
Evergreen Value: The Future of Urban Ecology
Understanding the relationship between urban and natural environments is crucial in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. As cities expand, integrating ecological conservation within urban landscapes can help protect threatened ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. Gallardo’s insights offer valuable lessons for other urban centers navigating similar challenges.
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