El avance de la desertificación en el norte semiárido de Chile
by Felipe Muñoz
portfolio special mention call 'URBANAUTICA INSTITUTE AWARDS 2021', 2021
Category: Nature, Environment and Perspectives
The voracious advance of climate change, the increase in extractivist production in less developed sectors, the prolonged drought, and the decrease in rainfall in Chile's semi-arid territory (Coquimbo Region) have accelerated the desertification of the geography of the area. The accelerated process of land degradation has not only been evident in the field of social-economic productivity but has also affected the landscape and the social dynamics that develop in it. In practice, and particularly in the Coquimbo region, drought and desertification resulting from the exploitation, extraction, and abuse of resources have materialized in 3,495,300 hectares at risk, thus evidencing water scarcity and lack of vegetation. A process that, although dating back more than 30 years, today seems to have no turning back. It is for this reason that the present photographic work seeks to be a small documentary sample of the situation of inflection for this current crisis and that undoubtedly has changed the geographical, aesthetic and visual scenario of the territory. -