During recent years, the northern region of Chilean Patagonia, specifically the area between the Puelo and Aysén river basins, has experienced the effects of climate change. These effects include a decrease in precipitation and a slight increase in temperature. Unfortunately, the future projections do not offer much optimism, as there is a high likelihood that these changes will persist and even intensify. To address this challenging scenario, an interdisciplinary team comprising researchers from various institutions such as the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Centro Interdisciplinario para la Investigación Acuícola (INCAR), Universidad de Talca, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Universidad del Bío-Bío (UBB), and Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) collaborated with experts from Oregon State University, the Catalan Institute for Water Research, and local communities from Puelo, Yelcho, Palena, Cisnes, and Aysén river basins. Together, they undertook a project titled “Risk Analysis as a tool for prioritizing Secondary Environmental Quality Standards in the main rivers of Northern Patagonia, under drought hydrological scenarios,” funded by the Strategic Drought Research Fund of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID).
The research aims to enhance the protection of one of the most well-preserved river systems on Earth through the dissemination and application of its findings. This will involve engaging communities and key stakeholders in an active role, not only in the scientific aspects but also in the co-creation of public policies.
