Metropolitan Park Cerros de Renca

Despite the great biodiversity present in this urban hill, it is severely affected by human activity, such as the presence of approximately 40 micro-landfills, nearby industrial activity, the use of motor vehicles on unestablished trails, and the depredation of vegetation by pastoral activities. These activities deplete vegetation, compact and contaminate the soil, disrupting the ability of each specimen to absorb water and nutrients. Likewise, the presence of eucaliptus (Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis) makes it difficult to establish native species due to their allelopathic characteristics and high competitiveness with other species. However, different strategies have been implemented to stop erosion through community reforestation programs with native species, projects that aim to turn the Metropolitan Park of Cerros de Renca into a space that improves people´s quality of life in one of the most populous sectors of Santiago. Currently, the park is considered a laboratory where native species from arid climates are being tested, allowing us to envision future public spaces when the effects of climate change modify the ecosystems of Central Chile.