Tourism Based on the Natural Environment
or Hydroelectric Power Generation.
Which road to take for the sustainable development of Aysen and Chile
As a company that was born and raised on the banks of the rio Baker
we have a very clear base line on this debate:
No amount of electricity is worth the irreversible and massive damage
to the whole hydrologic basin of these rivers. The 3 rivers in question
have historical, social and environmental value way beyond their value
to a private company as a potential source of electricity.
Floating down a river from its source to the sea is a unique experience
and one that has become increasingly rare in the world yet Aysen has
5 systems that do just that with no intervention. The intrinsic value
of these rivers is immeasurable and they have to be protected for their
own role in the natural play of Patagonia and the ecosystems of the
world and preserved for future generations of people to enjoy and benefit
from.
However, such intangible arguments seem to hold little sway in the
world of global economics and perpetual growth. The following notes
are our attempt to make an argument against these developments within
the paradigm of mainstream, global economics and development.
Background.
The Aysen region is effectively an inland island trapped between the
southern Patagonian Ice Cap to the south, Argentina to the East,
one of the planets most complex coast lines to the West and an absence
of continuous roads going north into the rest of Chile. Roads within
the region have only recently connected the southern most towns and
there are still many valleys with rural populations totally disconnected
from all modern technological resources.
The region has historically been heavily subsidised by the Chilean
state. Principal regional products have been provided by agricultural
companies focusing on sheep and cattle farming. The last 50 years have
seen a steady decline in traditional agricultural productivity and
the current major contributors are now salmon farming and mining.
In the last 20 years tourism has developed in the region from being
an adventurous, backpacker and mountaineer destination to an evolving
market force now catering for 35.000 tourists per year and producing
US$56.000.000 in 2005 and generating more than 1.000 direct, permanent
jobs and up to a further 3000 temporary, seasonal jobs. Tourism in
the region is projected to develop, along with national and global
trends to generate 10.000 direct jobs in the year 2015 and US$63.000.000
of income by 2009.
Current population figures are around 91.492 in a region of 43.000
square miles; 1 person per half mile square.
Figures taken from studies by SERNATUR (Servicio Nacional de Turismo) & CORFO
(Corporaciòn de Fomento).
The project proposed by ENDESA states an investment of US$4.500 million
and the generation of a peak of 4.000 jobs between 2008 and 2018.
TOURISM |
MEGA HYDROELECTRIC
PROJECTS |
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REGIONAL INVESTMENT
Both private and public sectors have been steadily investing in
the tourism over the past 15 years with a growing number of
projects for the next decade. The vast majority of this investment
is made in the region, purchasing local products or via local
suppliers and occupying regional labour. It is investment in
and for the region that also has a direct benefit to the environment
as much of the investment is being made the projects related
to the National Parks system. |
REGIONAL INVESTMENT
ENDESA proposes a total of 4.500 million dollars in the project.
This figure includes the construction of the dams and related
infrastructure and the power lines for transporting the electricity
north. The enormity of the building task inevitably means
that regional companies will be too small and the economies
of scale almost certainly mean that ENDESA will bring in materials
from the north, effectively cutting out local suppliers and
providers.
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GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Tourism is already providing a conservative 1000 full time, year
round direct jobs. This number increases dramatically with
temporary jobs and associated services such as transport, restaurants
etc. The majority of employees are either from the region or
live here permanently and thus contribute to the community
and economy. The number of direct, full time jobs is expected
to increase to 10.000 by 2010.
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GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment generated by ENDESA is proposed to rise to a peak of
4000 for a period of 3 years and vary between 200 and 2000
for 14 years.
The project would undoubtedly generate in-direct employment as
well.
Once the construction is completed the permanent employment created
would be low – security guards and engineers at the 4 dams. |
QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment in tourism, is typically better paid and in better conditions
than in the industrial sector. Employment is spread fairly
evenly between male and females, most people who work in tourism
live with their families and maintain a relatively normal and
good standard of living. Workers in tourism generally confess
to being happy and content with the work they do and have come
into it because of interest in the job itself. |
QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT
The majority of the jobs created by a Dam building project will
be in building. Hard work that is traditionally poorly paid.
The better paid jobs will go to engineers or specialists who
are not available in Aysen. The projects will be camp based
involving living away from families for extended periods. The
vast majority of the jobs created will go to male workers with
little opportunity for female roles. Most construction workers
are in the job primarily for the money involved and not through
any direct interest in the job itself.
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REGIONAL INCOME
Tourism, beyond the investments made in the region will continue
to provide income that remains in the region. All tourists
that come here contribute to the operator, hotels, transport
companies, supermarkets, local guides etc. thus spreading direct
financial benefit to multiple providers. Figures based on the
2005 – 2006 put the total sales figure for tourism in
Aysen at US$14.000.000
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REGIONAL INCOME
The income generated by ENDESA will leave the region directly along
the cables. The power is destined for industries further north
so little income will be generated that stays in the region.
ENDESA has alluded to but made no commitment to lowering the
cost of electricity in the region. |
SOCIAL IMPACT
There is a strong sense of social responsibility and family based
development in the tourism industry. Kids in schools want to
be guides, many sectors benefit from tourism and company owners
are key figures in local community and civil groups. |
SOCIAL IMPACT
An all male labour force of 4000 has a large social impact on a
small town like Cochrane and the region as a whole. A look
at any satellite town of mining or large industrial plants
is sufficient to see the effect on life style; crime, prostitution,
debts and long term poverty. Hiding this behind donations for
schools or hospitals is a clearly transparent mask.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Very little negative environmental impact has been caused by tourism.
Responsible companies work with the National Environental Comision
(CONAMA) and CONAF (National Parks) to assure minimum impact
and positive effects. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The ENDESA Project involves flooding 9300 hectares of farmland,
forest and wild valley. The construction of 4 concrete walls
of gigantic proportions along with roads, gravel pits and work
camps. A further 20.000 hectares of clear cut for the power
lines is also required.
All of this in a region of pristine natural beauty and habitat
to emblemic species in danger of extinction like the condor, puma
and Huemul (deer).
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Fears for the Future.
Aysen has been declared a “Reserva de Vida” (a reserve
of life) by many local organizations, municipalities, Schoos, companies
and individuals. A whole generation feels identified with “Aysen – Reserva
de Vida”. The region is a unique mix of natural habitat, ancient
forest, glaciers, peaks and beautiful, pristine rivers and lakes. Outside
of the Polar Regions it is the planets largest reserve of fresh water.
Drinking direct from a river or a lake with no need to filter or treat
water is a privilege that few areas in the world have
The ENDESA project and others that are already appearing threaten that
regional identity and much of the development that has gone into it.
Daming the Baker, Pascua and Salto rivers makes a continuous current
cable from the southern most dam to the centre north of Chile – 1200
miles away a necessity that will open up all other river systems in
the region at a much lower cost per project. ENDESA has water rights
and studies made for all the major rivers and summarise the regions
rivers as simply 8040 MW potential. There is no consideration of any
other factor in their vision of Aysen “Reserva de Vida”.
Our biggest fear is that these first projects will pave the way for
many more, converting one of the few remaining areas of the planet
with free flowing rivers of pure water into a huge hydro generating
plant. Signs of this happening are already apparent with the renewal
of an Aluminium smelting project on the coast requiring 3 dams to provide
power and other rivers being currently studied for future dams.
Tourism, the natural environment and quality of life for people here
will suffer. One of the planets best quality river fishing areas could
be terminated, once free flowing rivers trapped behing concrete do
not stay pure for long and the effect on glaciers, forest and fauna
is not known.
It is our hope that long term sense will prevail and that with the
support of visitors, local inhabitants and concerned companies both
the political powers and civil rights groups will turn this threat
around and make Aysen a true life reserve that is internationally protected
for all future generations. |
