Mas Newen, Chile

This project with Chilean cosmetics and superfood producer Mas Newen focuses on the conservation of a precious ecosystem: One of the last relict coastal forests in Chile. Located in the Rapel river estuary it is known for its endemism, biodiversity, and vulnerability. Through agroforestry, advancing desertification will be halted and reversed, ecosystem resilience will be increased, and farmers will benefit from new economic opportunities. Mas Newen has already established a small syntropic productive system. reNature will help to scale it up and build necessary capacities within the farming community.

Number of expected beneficiaries

10 to 20 families

Development Challenge

For the past 5 years, farmers in the valley have increasingly felt the effects of desertification. Livestock had to be sold and conventional crops and techniques are not performing anymore. Mas Newen has created an experimental agroforestry farm and farmers are interested in adopting the practices. However, education, capacity-building, and enhanced processing and facilities (e.g. a tree nursery) are needed to enable their participation and drive upscaling. The Horizonte del Mar valley consists of 50% relict forest and 50% pasture land.

Intervention

reNature will implement an educational facility (Model School) to build the necessary technical knowledge and capacities among neighboring farmers as well as visitors. This will empower them to adopt Mas Newen’s agroforestry practices. Similarly, the company will invest in its processing capacities enabling holistic upscaling and increased production.

Objective

Conserving a unique, biodiverse ecosystem by assigning it with economic value for farmers, while creating viable, sustainable commercial opportunities through agroforestry. 

Inspirational Impact

The local community hosts 50 inhabitants who are relying on farming who are already showing interest and will be inspired and facilitated to adopt agroforestry practices. Through the production of purely natural cosmetics, Mas Newen already promotes regenerative practices globally. Through this project, it will be able to increase its outreach and inspirational impact. Further, an NGO – the Kodkod Foundation – will be supported that promotes regenerative ecosystem restoration in the entire Rapel River estuary.

Environmental Impact

Replacing conventional livestock and farming practices with regenerative agroforestry will cease and reverse desertification. It will improve soil, water cycles, and biodiversity on and off the farms. In the long term, the valley’s ecosystem will be preserved and restored which benefits nature and enhances climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Social Impact

This project will ensure stable and diverse food availability for the local farmers and their families. Further, it will help to preserve a landscape of exceptional recreational value boosting the health and wellbeing of its visitors. It is a common destination for travelers from Santiago de Chile using it as a retreat from the hectic capital.

Economic Impact

Farmers will benefit from the project through stabilized yields, diversified production, and the link to Mas Newen’s global value chain of cosmetics and superfoods. They will also be able to valorize wild-harvested produce obtained from the relict forests. Additionally, preserving and restoring the landscape will increase financial opportunities linked to ecotourism which already is a commercial factor in the area.

Want to help conserving Chile’s last precious relict forests?

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