Tunquen Wetland Nature Sanctuary “Humedal Tunquén” (Chile)

About

Name of centre Tunquen Wetland Nature Sanctuary “Humedal Tunquén” (Chile)

Name of organisation: Corporación Humedal Tunquén

Funding support: Private funds/ Currently seeking government support

Number of staff: 9

Number of visitors per year: Not determined yet

Overall aims of the centre

To maintain the natural balance of the Tunquen Wetland´s wildlife through an integral management model and to create positive behavioural changes towards nature.

Description of the centre

95.97 hectares

The site compromises several different ecosystems, such us:

1) the wetland, formed by the body of water called the Casablanca Estuary

2) the vegetation formations of coastal sclerophyll forest and coastal desert

3) the coastal sand dune system

4) the 165 species of threatened and endemic flora (41,8% endemic, 33,3% native, 24,9% introduced), such as the Adesmia balsámica (VU); Calydorea xiphioides (EN); Pouteria splendens (EN); Alstroemeria pelegrina (VU); Equinopsis litoralis (NT); Basilichthys microlepidotus (VU); Cheirodon pisciculus (VU); Trichomycterus areolatus (VU); Bufo chilensis (VU); Sapo de cuatro ojos, Pleurodema thaul (NT); Caudiverbera caudiverbera (VU); Columba araucana (VU); Phalacrocorax bougainvillii (VU); Tachymenis chilensis (VU); Octodon lunatus (VU)

5) the 17 species of ichthyic native fauna, such as the Bagre Chico (Trichomycterus areolatus), Pejerrey de Escama Chica (Basilichthys microlepidotus) and Pocha (Cheirodon pisciculus), amongst others

6) the migratory birds, such as the Calidris bairdii (playero de Bird), Larus pipixcan (Gaviota de Franklin), Numenuis phaeopus (Zarapito), Charadrius alexandrinus (Chorlo nevado) and Charadius collaris (Chorlo de collar).

The area is located in the central coast of the Valparaíso Region of Chile.