With a mix of tree planting sessions, environmental education, and cultural activities, the fourth edition of the Pala en Mano Festival successfully concluded, an initiative led by UÑU Lab to regenerate the native forest of Chiloé and strengthen its role as a strategic carbon sink against the climate crisis.
During three days, the towns of Nal, Pupelde, and Huicha in the northern area of Isla Grande were the settings for community reforestation, the screening of documentaries with Santiago Wild Fest and Ladera Sur, specialized talks, and the participation of the young activist Noemí Manríquez (“Niña Planeta”), founder of AdolescenteImpacta.
Ecological restoration with local identity and participation
“We closed the planting season with enthusiasm and intergenerational participation. We planted 4,000 new native trees and shared the day with communities, companies, volunteers, and authorities,” highlighted Javier García, executive director of UÑU Lab.
The planted species —such as coihue, ulmo, canelo, meli, tiaca, olivillo, and notro— were selected according to the “potential vegetation” of each site, considering marine winds, forest remnants, and local conditions, as explained by Reinhard Fitzek, head of planting and master in forest sciences.
For the past six years, the laboratory has been working on three pillars: reforestation, environmental education, and artisanal work, combining community-oriented programs —like the festival itself— with initiatives for the private sector, such as corporate volunteering and ESG strategies for companies committed to sustainability.
A territory with double carbon capture capacity that resists degradation
Studies from the Institute of Ecology & Biodiversity (IEB) confirm that the forest ecosystems of Chiloé can capture up to twice the CO₂ per hectare compared to the Amazon, thanks to the accumulation in soil and vegetation.
However, degradation due to agricultural, forestry, and urban expansion has severely reduced its original biodiversity. In this context, UÑU Lab proposes a reforestation with an ecological and social approach, bringing together public, private, and community actors.
“The festival is part of Ancud’s climate action plan and contributes to reclaiming public and private spaces that improve water availability and mitigate the impacts of drought,” explained Alfredo Caro, director of the municipality’s Environment Department.
A replicable experience of collective restoration
Pala en Mano combines environmental awareness, concrete action, and territorial coexistence, betting on regeneration being also a cultural and collective experience.
From its biocultural approach, the festival consolidates a replicable model of community-based ecological restoration, with special attention to the ecosystemic and social values of the native forest of Chiloé, a key piece in adapting to climate change in southern Chile.
