SOCIAL HISTORY OF RED POR LA DEFENSA DE LA PRECORDILLERA
Red por la Defensa de la Precordillera has existed under this name since 2006, but long before that, residents organized to protect the precordillera of La Florida and Santiago. In the 1990s and beyond, residents fought for the protection of their neighborhoods — demanding, for example, the clearing of the Quebrada de Macul along its entire length, given the danger this could generate. Neither the district, regional, nor national authorities heeded their demands: on the fateful May 3, 1993, the Quebrada de Macul landslide swept through three settlements, destroying 400 homes and causing the deaths of 28 people, leaving more than 30,000 people displaced in its wake.
The Juntas de Vecinos of Las Perdices, El Esfuerzo, Las Higueras, Santa Sofía de Lo Cañas, and Lo Cañas then began to take a keen interest in the precordillera — above all because of the imminent danger of new landslides. For these reasons, together with other organizations, what we now know as "Red Precordillera" was formed.
In its early days, Red set out to create a Public Park in Panul — a titanic undertaking given that the forest did not even have official recognition; in other words, it did not exist for those who made decisions.
On the other hand, neither residents nor people from Santiago knew the forest… how do you fight for something you don't know? Thus, Red's first strategy was to make Panul known — along with the importance of its value to the entire city and the risks and disasters that would occur if it were destroyed.
We launched a strong media outreach campaign. We participated in fairs, academic exhibitions, guided walks, and every opportunity that presented itself, in order to raise awareness about Bosque Panul and the danger on the horizon.
Since very few residents knew the forest, territorial outreach was the focus. Years of intense work followed, spreading awareness about the conflict and strengthening the internal organization, as well as building ties with sister organizations.
This massive outreach contributed to generating awareness about the importance of preserving these places — but on the other hand, it generated a powerful impact on the forest due to the dramatic increase in visitors to an unregulated ecosystem. If in 2007 about 100 people entered Panul during the week, today visitors exceed 2,000, generating an impact the forest has been unable to reverse — leading to deterioration of Panul in several areas, especially due to the indiscriminate use of bicycles, which erode and compact the soil. This is why Red has launched a strong environmental education campaign, through the development of an educational project already being implemented in several schools in the area. Guided walks to the forest have been reduced to a minimum. At the same time, areas are being zoned for different uses, allowing for a protection zone that ensures the forest's survival.
Over the years, Red needed fresh energy to take the reins of this struggle, as most of its founding members were older residents. That's when a large number of young members began to arrive, renewing Red's strategy and taking it to the streets.
From the beginning, the organization has been horizontal and participatory — meaning anyone could join and make decisions in open spaces. This allowed new members to absorb a wealth of knowledge and history, becoming deeply empowered by the cause. Today, as then, Red's political strategy is discussed in open assemblies and implemented by working groups of the same character.
Over the years Red continued to grow. New residents arrived — especially professionals — who contributed to a more technical-institutional line of defense, enabling a historic victory: defeating the real estate project before the Environmental Assessment System in January 2012.
This victory, however, has not been enough for authorities to officially protect Panul.
From within Red, a deep critique has also been developing of the State and its management of our ecosystems: the dramatic destruction of areas of natural value; the exclusion of communities from decision-making; the private concession of parks and reserves, depriving communities of these benefits; a legal framework that privileges investment over the life of nature by treating the environment as a commodity; the prioritization of property rights over the right to a pollution-free environment; the ultimate severing of communities from their own territory and culture.
What do you do when the State — which should protect these territories and guarantee meaningful civic participation — does the exact opposite?
After many years of work, we have reached the conclusion that we — the inhabitants who love Panul and feel it is part of us — must make the decisions about this territory, ensuring its definitive protection.
Our solution to misgovernance is the creation of a community park in Panul, managed by local residents, under official protection. In other words, we are no longer just fighting to create a public park — we want to actively participate in the territory that shelters us, especially because Bosque Panul is part of our culture. Without it, a way of life, of relating to the mountain and to nature, would disappear.
If we are the sovereign power, why could we not manage Panul collectively as a community? We don't know the exact formula for this. We do know, however, that there is a community behind us — fighting for the protection of this place and ready to work in a self-managed way to build the country's first community park. If the State is not fulfilling its duty to protect our natural environment, why not allow active citizens to take the reins?
For us, this is both a conviction and a responsibility. After nearly 10 years of struggle, we want to be part of the future of Bosque Panul.
Today we have a community park project that grows day by day — and which, despite all obstacles and hardships, has begun its implementation.
We have found a path to develop politically without having to participate in the current system of elections and parties — a system we reject for distancing people and communities from decision-making.
We are here to stay. From Panul, we say: NEVER AGAIN WITHOUT US.
Red por la Defensa de la Precordillera.
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