Fragments of the environmental hystory of Fjord and channels North Patagonic System, South Of Chile: Two centuries of exploitation

Abstract

The available information about the environmental changes produced in the Nor-Patagonian Fjords and Channels System is dispersed and, in several cases, limited to the narrations and memories of those who lived, navigated and / or worked in this area, and therefore are fragmentary. However, it is possible to identify evidence that indicates a strong exploitation pressure on these ecosystems in the last 2 centuries, which would had significantly modified their terrestrial and submarine landscape. The natural resources exploitation pattern was systematically incorporating species into a portfolio (trees, mammals, invertebrates, algae, fish), to the extent that they acquired economic value. This, added to the introduction of exotic species, resulted in a significant decrease in forest cover, the abundance of birds and marine mammals and effects on fish and shellfish stocks. This rich environmental heritage that has an area of 5,161,387 ha of protected areas (80% of this littoral surface) seems to be poorly valued, which can be explained due to its lack of knowledge, remoteness, and the difficult and expensive accessibility for those who do not seek to exploit their natural resources. The aim of this review is to describe and synthesize an important part of the fragmentary available information about the main human activities that motivated and actually motivate the occupation of this coastal ecosystem and its main environmental effects and landscape transformations. Finally, we discuss about the inhabitants-users and the Nor-Patagonian fjords and channels system relationship, suggesting changes to promote the sustainability of these coastal ecosystems.