As part of Women’s Month, a ceremony was held where 11 women, all from the Maule region of Chile and beneficiaries of the National Strategy for Climate Change and Vegetation Resources (ENCCRV) and the +Forests Project, were distinguished as “Guardians of the Native Forest”, in recognition of their commitment to the restoration and protection of ecosystems.
Eve Crowley, FAO Representative in Chile, said: “Rural families and communities are increasingly promoting sustainable livelihoods, strengthening the local economy, generating development opportunities and contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and the reduction of the effects of climate change through sustainable forest managements.
“As an organization, we will remain committed to promoting sustainable practices and livelihoods that support food security, reduce rural poverty, and increase the resilience of communities to environmental challenges.”
The ceremony was attended by prominent national and regional authorities, including the Regional Presidential Delegate of Maule, Humberto Aqueveque; FAO Deputy Regional Representative Eve Crowley; the Provincial Presidential Delegate, Aly Valderrama; the Seremi of Agriculture, Claudia Ramos; and the Regional Director of CONAF, María Isabel Florido.
The Director of CONAF Maule, said: “Since ancient times, women have been protectors of ecosystems, through the collection of seeds and the transfer of the knowledge that the forest delivers to new generations, achieving an outstanding performance in the supervision, protection and sustainable management of forest resources.
“In this sense, through this recognition, it is demonstrated that women’s leadership and wisdom is essential to face the climate crisis, through the restoration and afforestation of ecosystems, as well as the development of sustainable livelihood initiatives.
“In the case of the Maule region, work is being done on the production of essential oils and the collection of medicinal herbs.”
Susana Romero, one of the Forest Guardians and part of the Yerba Luna Cooperative, recounted her experience with the forest, saying: “For us the work we do with my colleagues from the Cooperative, the collection of herbs is a deep connection with nature, since we respect the cycle of the earth and we protect each of the species making responsible use of the resources that Mother Nature gives us.”
Finally, in his speech, the Regional Presidential Delegate, Humberto Aqueveque, shared: “We wanted to be present at the closing of Women’s Month, where, together with the representative of FAO and the director of CONAF, we were with various women who were recognized as guardians of the native forest.
“This recognition is very important, since on the one hand it highlights the role of women in society and in the care of our biodiversity, and also thanks them for their contribution to the reforestation and restoration of the native forest, the care of our environment and ecosystem.
“Without a doubt, it is great news that we are recognizing these 11 women from various communes in the Maule region.”
11 women in all from the Maule region of Chile and beneficiaries of the National Strategy for Climate Change and Vegetation Resources (ENCCRV) and the +Forests Project, were recognized as “Guardians of the Native Forest”.
