Chile removes strange vegetation to combat drought

Santiago has experienced more than a decade of drought. Last year, Chile’s city of 7.1 million people experienced the driest winter of a century, with rainfall 71 percent below normal, making water management increasingly difficult.

Local authorities are preparing for difficult times ahead with a range of solutions, including the removal of exotic vegetation with native species that consume less water.

“We can’t make rain. That’s out of the question, but we can prepare for extremes ahead,” Claudio Orrego, Governor of Santiago, said in a statement.

Last year, Santiago Metropolitan Park reported an 87% increase in irrigation water compared to 15 years ago. Faced with the new reality, Park Manager Eduardo Villalobos launched a campaign to replant drought-resistant trees.

“We have replaced exotic forest with native forest with 100,000 trees replanted over three years on the northern slopes of the park,” Villalobos said. Besides, 50,000 m2 of grassland has also been removed and replaced with endemic plant species.

Not just within the park, authorities are starting to target green grass all over the city. Urban architect Joaquin Cerda in 2021 launched a movement against “European-style” grassed sidewalks.

His project, titled “Vereda Nativa”, which means “Indigenous Sidewalks”, has replaced hundreds of square meters of grass in the vicinity of Pedro de Valdivia Norte with 25 species of native plants. Share with AFPCerda says they are better suited to the climate of Santiago with their ability to survive long in water shortages.

“We water once a week for half an hour using drip irrigation, reducing water consumption to less than a tenth of what it used to be. Every drop of water is so precious now.” Cerda emphasized.

Forecasts suggest that the coming winter in Chile is equally bad, with major water sources such as the Mapocho at 57% of its capacity, the Maipo River at 61% and the El Yeso reservoir at only two-thirds full.

Doan Duong (According to AFP)