Chile Citizen Declaration: rights of the Biobío River

Summary

On September 24 2024, the Declaration of the Rights of the Biobío River was formally launched in Concepción, Chile after exhaustive studies and a year long consultation process. The Declaration recognizes the inherent rights of the Biobío River to exist, flow, and regenerate, and seeks to safeguard those rights against mounting environmental threats and guarantee it’s preservation and the rights of present and future generations. This marks a critical step toward its ultimate goal: adoption as a binding instrument to ensure the permanent protection of the Biobío River basin.

Background and Timeline
The Biobío River is the second longest river in Chile and one of the most important and biodiverse ecosystems in the country and an important biological corridor. The river has historically suffered threats including the construction of hydropower dams, water extraction for irrigation and urbanization, development of infrastructure projects, water pollution, and mineral extraction. The river’s health has suffered serious and, in some cases, permanent damage due to these threats.

The Declaration was initiated in November 2023 during the Somos Cuenca Festival, where communities came together to develop a draft Declaration of Rights through a series of workshops. Participatory dialogues among the attendees made visible the socio-environmental threats facing the Biobío River and the communities along the entire length of its basin. In February 2024, the text of the Declaration was opened for public consultation, in order to familiarize people with the Declaration and receive comments and suggestions regarding its content.

The river has a deep link to the culture and spirituality of the Pewenches and Lafkenches Peoples, with the river being an inherent part of their own worldview and traditional knowledge. A member of Malen Leubü (a collective of young Pewuenche women working and promoting the defense of the Pewenche territory of Alto Biobío) explains that, “For our Mapuche Pewenche worldview, the reciprocal relationship with the River is fundamental, from us as free people to him as free Ngen leubü. Unfortunately, the Rivers is already fractionated in more than 16 parts, which prevents the itrobil mogen [all life, beings and elements that surround us, that we can see and that we cannot see] from flowing, affecting our relationship and the Küme mongen [living in harmony with life, with our spirit (pullü), with our culture, with the itrobill mongen. With health and well-being] around it.”

The Declaration is a joint work between many actors, including Indigenous Peoples, scientists, civil society organizations, environmental activists, authorities, and the general public. It was lead by the local NGO Defensa Ambiental, in collaboration with partner organizations Defensa Ribera Norte Chiguayante; Malen Leubü; Fundación Manzana Verde; International Rivers; Earth Law Center.