The Leader | Project will rescue the natural and cultural value of the Maipo River Sanctuary

The initiative proposed by the Cosmos Foundation aims to be a platform for disseminating the socio-ecological heritage of the Nature Sanctuary.

With the aim of highlighting the social and natural identity of the Maipo River Wetland Nature Sanctuary and involving the inhabitants of the province of San Antonio and visitors in its conservation, the Cosmos Foundation was awarded funding from the Public Science Program of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation to finance the project “Maipo River Wetland, Museography on a Socioecosystem.”

The project involves installing a museum display with interactive content, urban-scale graphics, and signage that showcases this ecosystem as a natural and cultural heritage for the inhabitants of the province of San Antonio.

“By disseminating the content of the museum, we hope to generate long-term change that, in addition to strengthening ties with the community, will raise visitor awareness about avoiding bad practices and fostering ownership of this ecosystem through meaningful experiences, contributing to its preservation for future generations,” commented Diego Urrejola, executive director of the Cosmos Foundation.

Funding for this initiative comes from the Public Science Program of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, which, in its third round since its inception, seeks to promote the dissemination of knowledge through meaningful interactions and experiences in various everyday spaces.

Axes:

The initiative to be developed by the Cosmos Foundation will be structured around three axes: the first aims to integrate the presence of the wetland as a territorial ecological heritage into the collective imagination at the community level. To this end, interactive signage will be developed at various points in the municipalities of San Antonio and Santo Domingo, the Lo Gallardo Bridge, the artisanal fishing cove, and other significant points selected based on their urban relevance.

The second includes the Maipo River Wetland Nature Sanctuary as a conservation area, for which territorial restrictions will be established through signage and totem poles throughout the park. The goal is to ensure that the local community and visitors from other regions are aware that they are entering an area of great socio-ecological value and natural heritage in the province of San Antonio.

Finally, the third axis involves the installation of interactive devices in the park, such as signage, wayfinding, and stops. These devices will offer content related to the history of the site, questions, and reflections, thus creating a memorable experience for visitors. A more complex museum intervention will also be developed, including the creation of an interactive wall displaying content on indigenous peoples and artisanal fishing, the biological heritage of birdlife, and the importance of coastal wetlands in terms of their ecosystem functions.