Por: Miguel Segur Pelayo y Matilde Alvarado Cerda,  NTT DATA Chile.

Abstract

The private sector plays a fundamental role in the sustainable management of biodiversity, the advancement of knowledge, and society’s participation in the protection and conservation of ecosystems. In this regard, integrating nature into economic models is essential for making better decisions, recognizing its critical role in the resilient and prosperous development of the economy.

Within this context, research on natural assets and ecosystem services is key to proposing an adaptive land management model. It also aligns with Chile’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and the Environmental Performance Review of Chile by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

However, sustainable growth is not possible without metrics that measure and highlight nature’s contribution to capital growth. To achieve this, interactions between the natural environment and biodiversity, along with their risks and opportunities, must be considered from a holistic and comprehensive perspective.

The purpose of this work is to show the value of nature in management and governance decisions, beyond the land or surface value, through the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Examples include the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the conservation of protected areas, and the sustainable management of natural resources, among others.

Given that the work is still in progress, preliminary results from the legal, social, and environmental characterization show the first steps toward identifying available land plots where NbS will be implemented. As part of this process, first, a legal characterization is carried out, followed by the identification of natural assets present in the territory, as well as social uses and demands, which will lead to a better understanding of the different ecosystem services offered by the assets of each property. Next, impacts and dependencies are identified and subjected to a materiality process, which allows the most significant ones to be identified and characterized.

In short, the study focuses on analyzing ten properties located in northern Chile, covering a total of 156,300 hectares.

Based on this, the project has identified the following considerations for the next stages:

ν Only areas corresponding to mining property or easements will be included in the valuation and in the identification of pilot sites to implement Nature-based Solutions.

ν The area that the company must declare in international certifications is greater than what they have currently declared.