Browsing by Author "Martínez, Carolina"

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    A Community Disaster Resilience Index for Chile
    (2023) Bronfman, Nicolás; Castañeda González, Javiera Valentina; Guerrero Mancilla, Nikole Fernanda; Cisternas, Pamela; Repetto Lisboa, Paula Beatriz; Martínez, Carolina; Chamorro Giné, Marcela AlondraBronfman, Nicolás; Castañeda González, Javiera Valentina; Guerrero Mancilla, Nikole Fernanda; Cisternas, Pamela; Repetto Lisboa, Paula Beatriz; Martínez, Carolina; Chamorro Giné, Marcela Alondra
    Although Chile is one of the countries most exposed to natural hazards, to date there is no national index that shows the differences in resilience levels within the country. This study develops a community resilience index on a national scale based on the Baseline Resilience Community (BRIC) index. The BRIC index for Chile was built with 49 indicators, from different sources at the district level. Our results determined that resilience is not distributed homogeneously throughout the country. The highest levels of resilience are concentrated in the central macro-zone. In comparison, the extreme zones of Chile focus close to 90% of their population in the lowest levels, accounting for an uneven distribution of resources and services that impact resilience levels. These differences were mainly explained by indicators such as the percentage of the population without a health insurance system, the percentage of the population without internet access, and the percentage of electoral participation, among others. The results demonstrate that the BRIC model can be successfully implemented to assess community resilience in Chile and suggests the possibility of targeting resources and strategies to increase resilience in areas with the lowest levels of community resilience.
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    Natural Risks in Chile: History, Approaches and Future Challenges
    (NOVA, 2019) Martínez, Carolina; Vicuña del Río, María Magdalena; Guerrero, Nikole; Alaniz Baeza, Alberto José
    Chile is located in the Southern Cone of South America; it has a high diversity of landscapes which have been considered by naturalists and scientists as an irreplaceable patrimony of nature. This country has more than 4000 kilometers of latitudinal extension, with deserts, agricultural valleys, large mineral deposits, ancient forests, relict and endemic species, glaciers, dunes, indigenous cultures and an increasing economy. The relationship between human development and natural characteristics in this diverse country has been quite variable over time; a number of different processes have produced the current state of nature and culture. The environment of Chile has undergone notorious changes since the Spanish colonization, determined by the natural characteristics of the territory and governmental policies which transformed the landscape and human life styles. These changes have continued up to the present day; the first book about environmental issues in Chile, entitled “La sobrevivencia de Chile” (The survival of Chile) published by Rafael Elizalde Mac-Clure in 1970, predicted several of the environmental impacts generated recently by human activities in the country. Conservation is strongly influenced by understanding of and respect for the value of nature; this depends importantly on education and knowledge about the history, perspectives and challenges to the environment. Understanding the environment is fundamental to value nature; this cognitive process generates a link between the reader and nature which promotes the understanding of nature and thus the generation of empathy and feeling with it. It is necessary to understand the problems which have been generated by humans in order to generate perspectives about the current and future state of nature. Generation of these perspectives will help to confront new challenges, accepting our responsibilities and motivating the generation of positive feedback between humans and nature. The main aim of this book is to contribute to the understanding of the environment in Chile. I invited experts in different fields of knowledge linked to the environment to contribute, aiming to reach a holistic view of this topic. The first chapter focuses on understanding an important dimension of nature, describing the Chilean forests as one of the main natural patrimonies of the country. Then the human enforcement of conservation biodiversity and natural patrimony is presented, analyzing what was, is and will be the role of different actors (protected areas, government and the educational system) in the conservation of biodiversity. Topics such as plastic pollution in oceans, the role of the school education system, private protected areas and others are addressed. Then the book focuses on new factors linked to climate change which will affect natural characteristics in the future, addressing the potential impacts generated by climate change on the environment of Chile. As an example of these factors, livestock activities and their impact on environment are analyzed in depth, presenting alternatives for sustainable development in the near future that take into account food security, soil erosion and climate change. The book finalizes with two issues which are strongly linked to human activities, natural hazards and mining impacts. A history of natural hazards in Chile is presented, analyzing the changes in policy and the influence of socio-environmental events and dynamics on the current structure of risks in Chile determined by natural and human factors. Finally, an analysis of the impacts of mining associated with arsenic and copper is presented, describing the development of environmental standards which aim to avoid or reduce the impacts on nature and humans. The first step to loving something is understanding it and emphasizing with it. This book provides an understanding of the environment from a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, inviting you to generate a link with nature and the environment of Chile.
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    Projections of Beach Erosion and Associated Costs in Chile
    (2023) Winckler, Patricio; Agredano Martín, Roberto; Esparza Acuña, César Antonio; Melo Contreras, Óscar; Sactic, María Isabel; Martínez, Carolina
    Economic costs associated to coastal erosion are projected in 45 sandy beaches in Chilean coasts. We compare mid-century (2026–2045) and end-of-century projections (2081–2100) of wave climate and sea-level rise (SLR) with a historical period (1985–2004) using several General Circulation Models for the RCP 8.5 scenario. Offshore wave data are then downscaled to each site, where shoreline retreat is assessed with Bruun rule for various berm heights and sediment diameters. Results indicate that mid-century retreat would be moderate (>13 m) while larger end-of-century projections (>53 m) are explained by SLR (0.58 ± 0.25 m). A small counterclockwise rotation of long beaches is also expected. To assess the costs of shoreline retreat, we use the benefit transfer methodology by using adjusted values from a previous study to the sites of interest. Results show that, by mid-century, beach width reduction would be between 2.0% and 68.2%, implying a total annual loss of USD 5.6 [5.1–6.1] million. For end-the-century projections, beach width reduction is more significant (8.4–100%), involving a total annual loss of USD 10.5 [8.1–11.8] million. Additionally, by the end-of-century, 13–25 beaches could disappear. These costs should be reduced with coastal management practices which are nevertheless inexistent in the country.