Baseline Study on Marine Debris and Municipal Waste Management in Chiloé-Corcovado, Southern Chile
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BASELINE STUDY ON MARINE DEBRIS AND MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CHILOÉ-CORCOVADO, SOUTHERN CHILE Master Thesis Master of Sciences in Regional Development Planning and Management SPRING HORSTMANN, Johannes VALDIVIA, CHILE July 2007 DECLARATION OF THE AUTHOR BASELINE STUDY ON MARINE DEBRIS AND MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CHILOÉ-CORCOVADO, SOUTHERN CHILE by HORSTMANN, Johannes This thesis was submitted to the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences in partial compliance of the requirements to obtain the academic degree “Master of Sciences in Regional Development Planning and Management” jointly offered by University Austral de Chile in Valdivia and the Faculty of Spatial Planning, University of Dortmund/Germany, in the 2-years post-graduate study programme “Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies (SPRING)”. The author declares to have elaborated the present research solely by his own efforts and means. All information taken from external sources is marked accordingly. ------------------------------ Johannes Horstmann Valdivia, Chile 02-July-2007 ii MASTER THESIS APPROVAL REPORT The Thesis Assessment Committee communicates to the Graduate School Director of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences that the Master Thesis presented by the candidate HORSTMANN, Johannes has been approved in the Thesis defense examination taken on 10th of July 2007, as a requirement to opt for M.Sc. Regional Development Planning and Management Degree. Sponsor Professor _________________________ Professor Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete Assessment Committee ________________________ Professor Manfred Max-Neef ________________________ Dr. Christoph Kohlmeyer _________________________ Ing. Maria Luisa Keim Knabe iii ACKNOLEDGEMENTS “Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto…” I want to express my love and gratefulness to my parents who gave life to me and my sisters. “Muito obrigado, Barbara”, for guiding me out of the last tunnel during various nights, and “Dziękuję!, Ruth”, for your motivating help during the field work in Chiloé. I say “Danke, Schlucki” to my friend Martin for commenting on my draft and his “fatherly” advices, and “Gracias, Paloma” for joyful moments during summer and for your warming love during winter. “Gracias también” to my roommates Esperanza for giving me hope, to Luna for sharing reflections of sunlight, and to Rodrigo and Kathy for sharing our house and thus making it a home to me. Furthermore, I acknowledge my thankfulness to Margarita and Don Sergio in Quellón for providing accommodation and to Pedro and Jorge for their facilitating role during fieldwork in Quellón. I want to thank the team of Centro Ballena Azul for welcoming me in Melinka and supporting my research project. Thanks to Brianna and Israel, to Don Viktor, Marta and their daughter giving me a hand during field work, and to Sara, Angel, Claudio and Andres for sharing “la vida isleña“ in Melinka. Special thanks to Max Bello and Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete for tutorship and feedback during this research, to Maria Luisa Keim for supervising my scientific work. I also thank the Secretaries Gisela, Pamela and Gladys as well as Claudio and Jaime for services and assistance in SPRING-Valdivia. I acknowledge thanks to Prof. Max-Neef, Robinson Ampuero, Prof. Schmidt-Kallert and the DAAD scholarship programme for making these studies possible in Valdivia, and thanks to staff in SPRING-Dortmund for the first year of this programme. Final greetings to SPRING fellows all around the world, “Vielen Dank!” for our joint learning process and for working on a common goal: “Salam Aleíkum!” „Yo tengo tantos hermanos, que no los puedo contar, y una hermana muy hermosa, que se llama libertad!” iv ABSTRACT The Gulf of Corcovado marine and coastal area in southern Chile comprises some priority concern areas for biodiversity conservation in that region. Its ecosystem integrity is seen compromised to an unknown degree, besides other factors, due to increasing generation of marine debris from various sources. The guiding research question therefore is: “What are general and specific characteristics of marine debris in the Gulf of Corcovado, and which management strategies are needed at the municipal and regional level to address key causes efficiently?” The field study was composed of a sample-based survey of stranded marine debris, and of interviews and field observations concerning the local waste management conditions. Results reveal that about 87% of stranded marine debris is made of plastic, and at least 65% can be associated to coastal economic activities such as artisanal fisheries and industrial aquaculture. The specific composition of marine debris samples and complementary field observations in urban areas of Quellón and Melinka gave sufficient hints to identify main points of origin at local and regional levels. It is concluded that concerted action is needed to control marine debris generation at land-based and sea-based sources. In a participatory multi-level planning process involved stakeholders would have to meet and create a shared vision about present facts and future trends in regional development, in order to identify respective management responsibilities. Joint strategies for an integrated waste management approach need to be elaborated, carried by meaningful commitments of local and regional stakeholder groups. Key aspects are the reduction of waste generation and the introduction of regional resource recycling economies based on inter-municipal cooperation networks. Environmental education and awareness raising campaigns along with more effective enforcement of environmental protection laws are crucial elements to empower integrated waste management as a tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. v RESUMEN EJECUTIVO El área marina y costera del Golfo de Corcovado en el Sur de Chile, comprende algunas de las áreas prioritarias para la conservacion de la biodiversidad de la región. La integridad de su ecosistema se ve amenazado, entre otras causas, por un aumento en la generación de basuras marinas originadas en diversas fuentes. Por lo tanto, la interrogante principal de esta investigación es la siguiente: “¿Cuáles son las caracteristicas generales y específicas de las basuras marinas en el Golfo de Corcovado, y qué estrategías de manejo son necesarias, tanto a nivel municipal como regional, para abordar de una manera eficiente las causas fundamentales de esta problemática?” El estudio consistió en la toma de muestras de basura marina en las playas del área y en la realización de entrevistas a personas relacionadas a la gestion de residuos sólidos en las comunas, ambas complementadas con observaciones en terreno. Los resultados indícan que cerca del 87% de la basura recogida en las playas son materiales plasticos, y al menos 65% pueden ser asociados a actividades economicas en la costa, tales cómo la pesca artesanal y la acuicultura industrial. La composición especifica de las muestras y las observaciones hechas en las zonas urbanas de Quellón y Melinka permitieron identificar los mayores puntos de origen a nivel local y regional. En conclusión, se necesitan acciones concertadas con el propósito de controlar la generación de basuras marinas en sus fuentes terrestres y acuáticas. A través de un proceso de planificación participativo que considere actores de los distintos niveles involucrados, quienes debieran reunirse para crear una visión compartida sobre hechos actuales y tendencias futuras del desarrollo regional, destacando sus responsabilidades respectivas. Se deben elaborar estrategías comunes para abordar la gestion de residuos sólidos de una manera integral, basadas en aportes sustanciales de los sectores involucrados en la región. Se recomienda considerar los siguientes aspectos claves: reducir la generación de residuos y fomentar economías de reciclaje de recursos en la regíon, facilitado por redes de cooperación inter-municipal. Campañas de sensiblisación y educación ambiental, complementadas por un refortalecamiento de la fiscalización de las leyes vigentes relativas a la protección del medio ambiente, son elementos cruciales para convertir la gestión integral de residuos en una herramienta eficaz para la conservación de la biodiversidad y el desarrollo sustentable. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction................................................................................................11 1.1 Problem situation and Research Objectives .................................................... 11 1.1.1 Overall objective and research approach................................................................. 12 1.1.2 Specific objectives.................................................................................................... 13 1.2 Marine Debris – Scope of the Problem............................................................. 14 1.2.1 Definitions................................................................................................................. 14 1.2.2 Global extent of marine debris ................................................................................. 16 1.2.3 Main marine debris sources ..................................................................................... 18 1.2.4 Impacts of Marine Debris ......................................................................................... 19 1.2.5 Linkage to municipal waste management systems.................................................. 22 1.3 Research Area .................................................................................................