Discourses of Nature in New Perceptions of the Natural Landscape in Southern Chile

Abstract

Landscapes are shaped over time by the changing imaginaries that result from new representations of nature and the value associated with it. This paper discusses the evolving discourses which have shaped the perception of the landscape in two socially and ecologically significant contexts in Chile. The first is the central-southern region of the country, a large portion of which is now devoted to commercial forestry plantations. The second is the Patagonia-Aysén region, where since the 1990s, colonization of a land defined by a tradition of livestock rearing has evolved into a process epitomized by the slogan “Aysén, Life Reserve.” The representation that was made of central-southern Chile in the 50' and 60' as a deforested and degraded land was the justification for promoting a new form of land occupation: the monoculture forest, designed and executed by a specific law. Forty years on from the passing of this law, the plantations of central-southern Chile have undergone a process of naturalization. In this case, the exaltation of nature has been permanent (before and after the changes doing by this law). The only thing that changes is the definition of nature, which ended up including forest plantations. That is, discourses influence perceptions and these lead to new practices in the study area and beyond. In Patagonia-Aysén, by the other side, there has been a marked shift in the rhetoric surrounding land. This has been particularly noticeable in the case of government bodies and private ecotourism companies, which have constructed an imaginary in line with a new model of economic development for the area. In a break with tradition, both the public and private sectors are beginning to shift their investment away from agricultural and livestock exploitation and toward ecotourism and conservation projects. In both cases, we analyse the manner in which transformations in perceptions and representations of landscape bring about new forms of land use, and how new focuses of value and social interest, forged within wider environmental discourses, have brought with them unexpected social consequences, like depopulation, economic transformations, cultural changes, etc. Thus, the aim of this work is to expose and discuss the reality and scope of new green discourses and their influence on the perception of natural landscapes in the Chilean neoliberal context.

Territoriality, environment and hybrid governance tensions in alternative food networks: Cases of small‐scale viticulture in Chile

“…The forestry industry based on cultivation of introduced species is the major producer of landscape in the Itata Valley territory, and has a significant and growing presence in the Marga‐Marga and Lontué Valley (Aliste, Folchi, & Núñez, 2018). It does not only occupy a large area of land, but is also responsible for the reduction of groundwater and of local biodiversity, affecting wine quality.…”

Disentangling Environmental and Development Discourses in a Peripheral Spatial Context: The Case of the Aysén Region, Patagonia, Chile

“…Another finding worth discussing is the Patagonian wilderness discourse. According to Aliste et al. (2018), renewed environmental-capitalist values have transformed the perception of Patagonian landscapes into representations of purified nature .…”

“…Another finding worth discussing is the Patagonian wilderness discourse. According to Aliste et al (2018), renewed environmental-capitalist values have transformed the perception of Patagonian landscapes into representations of purified nature. Despite promoting nature conservation, the idealization of pristine nature has redefined the access to natural areas, generating new forms of inequalities.…”

Pueblos indígenas, recursos y gobernanza. Un análisis de la consulta indígena como parte de la Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental del proyecto hidroeléctrico Añihuerraqui, Región de la Araucanía, Chile

“…Por lo tanto, las perspectivas indígenas sobre el desarrollo (económico) en sus territorios desafían las aproximaciones hegemónicas y son movilizadas en disputas por diferentes usos de los recursos en el territorio (Escobar, 2006) que alteran las relaciones históricamente establecidas entre la comunidad y el medio ambiente (Aliste, Folchi & Núñez, 2018). Es decir, frente a conflictos socioambientales diferentes identidades se asocian a ciertas convicciones y aspiraciones en torno a la naturaleza, que al atribuirles las características "bueno" y "malo" con el fin de imponer una opción sobre la otra para justificar un modelo y uso del recurso frente al otro (Peluso, 2012) causando conflictos.…”