National Surfbreaks Protection Progam in Chile

National Surfbreaks Protection Progam in Chile 2020-05-14T18:21:00+00:00

Working for the legal protection of the main Chilean surfbreaks.

Within the framework of our international strategies for the protection of the marine environment, the Surf & Nature Alliance has created and is currently developing the National Program for the Protection of Surfbreaks in Chile, and aims to achieve the legal and official protection of the main Chilean coastal areas with a special interest for surfing.

The marine and coastal environment, waves, and surfbreaks, suffer frequent hazards, threats, and impacts. Chile, like most Latin American countries, does not have an adequate assessment of the value of its surfbreaks nor legal protection and territorial management for this important part of their natural heritage. Surfbreaks are a representative part of the Chilean coastal heritage, but they are still not included in the environmental and land management strategies or politics. Therefore, every year, we witness more disappearances and impacts. Our program in Chile was born to work in partnership with local communities with the objective of providing scientific, technical, and activists solutions to empower the long-term legal protection and sort out all environmental issues affecting surfbreaks different scales.

Most of the surf break valuation cases are focused on epic spots like Punta de Lobos, but dozens of other waves are also endangered and have no legal protection or any type of management from their local governments. Surf & Nature Alliance pays attention to those waves as well.

We believe in the original values ​​of surf culture, its philosophy, and way of life. We believe in the need of living in harmony with nature, inspiring the change towards the search of a more sustainable world. Furthermore, surfing resources are now permitting wealth and development in the form of blue economies. These economies are valued by the most advanced public strategies and politics.

The National Surfbreak Protection Program for Chile began focused on the threatened waves of Pichilemu.

In 2016, Surf & Nature Alliance began working with local coastal communities and Chilean authorities. 

In 2017, Chilean authorities ratified our Manifesto and declared for the first surfing reserve in Chile: PICHILEMU SURFING RESERVE. Including the epic wave of PUNTA DE LOBOS and Infiernillo and La Puntilla.

For the first time in history, authorities officially accepted the value of surfbreaks and surfing as a natural and cultural heritage, as well as a sportive and socio-economic strategic resource for Chilean local communities. 

Our Manifesto for the Protection of the Waves became the foundations for the proposal of a new law (Ley de Rompientes) to protect unique breakers all along the Chilean coastline.

We are currently working in the mainland and the remote islands of Rapa Nui to protect a beautiful part of the natural and cultural heritage of the local coastal communities in Chile.

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RESERVA DE SURF DE PICHILEMU

Punta de Lobos | El Infiernillo | La Puntilla

“We achieved the declaration of an epic break and internationally known as Punta de Lobos, but also others of great importance to the local community such as Infiernillo or La Puntilla.”

This program began in 2016 in collaboration with the local communities and administrations in Chile. We gave technical and scientifical support to several administrations around the country. In 2017 the first great milestones were achieved:

PICHILEMU SURFING RESERVE
Punta de Lobos, Infiernillo, La Puntilla

The first Surf Reserve recognized and declared by the local public administrations in Chile.
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