Easter Island opens Visitor Centre as part of intensive conservation program

Monday, June 6th 2011 - 06:42 UTC

Full article 4 comments

Chile’s Easter Island opened the doors to its new sustainable visitor centre on May 13. The centre is located at the entrance to the Orongo Ceremonial Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site in a Rapa Nui National Park. Read full article

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GeoffWard
So, I note that the Sustainable Visitor Centre is funded by Chile’s National Forestry Commission (CONAF).

I wonder if this means that Easter Island will be re-forested - as, at the moment and for quite some time - its characteristic feature is treelessness.

In fact, the whole unique interest in Easter Island centres around the destructiveness and self-destructiveness of tribal man.

Would it not be better to leave it treeless, as a potent warning to humanity that the 'message' - and ground conditions - of Easter Island could so easily and rapidly happen on the world-scale?
Jun 06th, 2011 - 06:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ManRod
mhhh, the point is... the island is suffering from massive erosion in some parts. Of course the island benefits from it's history, which is bound to the catasptrophe in the past. On the other side, it also would benefit from good examples of re-foresting and it's benefits. They will surely not reforest the whole island again, thats for sure.
Jun 06th, 2011 - 11:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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daula
CONAF is responsible for Parks and forest conservation... http://www.conaf.cl/
Jun 07th, 2011 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard
Yes, Manrod &Daula,

it could be a good example of reconstructing environments to complement the anthropological interest.

*Native species* rather than euclypts and foreign pines, though I doubt if the Easter Island Palm is in any seed-bank.
Trees with grazing, and trees in enclosures from grazing.
Windward & leeward plantings; appropriate high-ground spp.

I feel sure Kew Gardens, UK would love to be part of such a project of island reconstruction; and they have by far the best databases and seed-banks.
Elimination of non-native fauna, esp. rat.
Jun 07th, 2011 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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