With the presentation as advisor of Manuel Contreras López, specialist in wetlands, academic of the School of Oceanic Civil Engineering of the University of Valparaíso and associate professor of the Institute of Geography of the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Puerto San Antonio formally began its process to the protection and care of the bodies of water known as Ojos de Mar, which are located inside the port area.

The work that the specialist will do responds to the announcement made publicly by Puerto San Antonio last September, when the state company reported that after analyzing the new possible scenarios for the development of Puerto Exterior, it will protect and care for the area currently occupied by the so-called Ojos de Mar with the participation of professional experts in environmental matters.

The general manager of the port company, Luis Knaak, explained that “today we are making progress in materializing the commitment made regarding the care of the bodies of water that are within the port area. We understand the value that Ojos de Mar has for the inhabitants of San Antonio and the biodiversity that exists there, which is why we have decided to consult a specialist with extensive experience and a long history in environmental issues.”

Knaak stressed that “the decision taken for the protection and care of the Llolleo lagoons is part of the environmental evaluation process of the Puerto Exterior project, and as such, it will be included in Addendum No. 1. This evaluation process, which is not yet complete, contemplated the citizen participation of the neighbors and interested organizations that sent their comments and observations to this important port expansion project”.

Meanwhile, Manuel Contreras said that “during my career I specialized in issues related to climate change on the coast and about 11 years ago I realized that coastal wetlands were an important object of study. From there I began to work hard in the coastal wetlands of central Chile”.

Regarding the advice for the protection and care of the Ojos de Mar in San Antonio, the expert pointed out that "the challenge of preserving this wetland is very important and how to make it interact with the project (Puerto Exterior) in a positive and harmonious way".

Regarding research of this type, the academic explained that “I began to work hard in the El Yali wetland for several years, which culminated in a scientific publication. We were working on issues of restoration of disturbances caused by the tsunami, changes in the subsoil, human actions, among others. In 2018 we started as a team to work with wetlands from Antofagasta to Cucao”.

“The main focus we have been working on is studying how climate change is interacting with coastal wetlands, either positively or negatively, since wetlands are a way to mitigate climate change. We also evaluate the anthropic impacts, that is, those caused by the human being”, he indicated.

Contreras López specified that "we are currently monitoring 20 wetlands in the Valparaíso Region and we soon want to deliver a book on what is happening with them in the region."