La Tercera || After removing 10,000 cubic meters of trash, the Maipo River wetland will now be converted into a scientific laboratory.

During two years of intensive work, more than 10,000 m³ of waste was removed, including plant material, piles of wood chips, and debris that were affecting the wetland’s biodiversity. Furthermore, the chipping company ceased operations, a critical step to halt soil degradation and allow for ecosystem regeneration.
“Thanks to our ability to build partnerships with academic institutions, local organizations, and the regional government, and to engage the community as an active part of the process, we are now seeing concrete results in the regeneration of the wetland. This collective effort demonstrates that effective conservation is possible when science, citizen participation, and long-term commitment are combined,” explains Diego Urrejola, executive director of the Cosmos Foundation.
Image of the wetland area where waste was removed and reforestation resumed.
The Regional Governor of Valparaíso, Rodrigo Mundaca, praised the impact of this program and its contribution to ecosystem conservation.
“This program is about environmental protection and how we can harmonize development with the care and restoration of nature through remediation, rehabilitation, and socio-ecological education, contributing to the restoration of the Maipo River Wetland Nature Sanctuary. We are pleased with the results and how we have raised community awareness about protecting this sanctuary,” he said.

One of the key pillars of the restoration was reforestation with native species, with more than 1,200 trees planted using innovative methodologies such as core plantings, syntropic lines, and the Miyawaki method, which accelerates tree growth compared to traditional methods.
The Miyawaki method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, represents a revolution. Its goal is to create dense native forests in small areas and in a relatively short period of time. This approach has multiple benefits for both the environment and local communities. These interventions have already begun to show results, with the presence of native pollinators and the regeneration of key habitats within the wetland. In parallel, the program promoted a strong environmental education component with free training for 210 residents of the province of San Antonio in ecological restoration and wetland conservation. Through courses taught in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, participants acquired tools for community protection of these ecosystems.

And as part of the closing of this phase funded by the Regional Government, the documentary “Volver a Habitar” (Return to Habitar) was released, directed by Mateo Barrenengoa. It portrays the wetland restoration process and the program’s impact on the community. This audiovisual piece seeks to raise awareness about the importance of wetland restoration and its role in environmental sustainability. The restoration process for this ecosystem continues unabated. In this new phase, the Cosmos Foundation seeks to consolidate the Maipo River Wetland as a Laboratory of Innovation for Wetland Restoration, with the installation of a nursery for the reproduction of native species and the development of new restoration techniques that can be replicated in other degraded ecosystems.
After removing the waste, the project considered reforestation of the site.
“This lab represents a new stage in our restoration work, allowing us to explore innovative solutions for wetland conservation and strengthen our work with the community,” Urrejola emphasizes.

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