In 2015, Bosques del Norte S.p.A. modeled, designed and built an “Environmental Restitution Park” or “Water Park” in the National Botanical Garden of Viña del Mar, for an area of 250 hectares that were degraded and unused, constructing soil conservation works and afforestation with native species.

In this area, a work model was proposed that allows the evaluation and intervention of any deteriorated forest property, improving rainwater infiltration rates at low cost . This property had a topography of steep slopes and ravines, coupled with low vegetation cover as a result of human intervention and constant forest fires in the summer.

This model had three objectives:

• Capture and infiltration of rainwater into the underground layers.

• Recovery of deep wells for various purposes.

• A social space for environmental education, technical training and recreation (“Environmental Restoration Park”).

The model considered enabling water wells that are currently unused, designing and constructing soil conservation works (trenches of infiltration and dams) appropriate to reduce surface runoff, capturing rainwater and infiltrating it into the soil.

It also considers the recovery of vegetation cover through the afforestation of adapted species to the area (native) and exotic, which will contribute to giving stability to the environmental system and increasing the percentage of infiltration.

The “Environmental Restitution Park” that was built around These soil conservation works and native plantations mainly show how, in a simple and efficient way, the availability of a resource as scarce and important in this area as water can be considerably increased.

At the same time, the same soil conservation works have a clear educational component, since they will allow children and young people to be shown how nature can be intervened in a positive and sustainable way, causing environmental and social benefits. long term, increasing citizen awareness of the importance of good use of water and respect for nature, especially in fragile ecosystems such as the semi-arid.

Finally, the activities culminated in in 2021, building about 28,000 linear meters of infiltration ditches and 40 dams in the stream sectors.

In the Water Park, we planted more than 500 Chilean palms (Jubaea chilensis), more than 30 years old. We design, layout and build more than 28,000 linear meters of Infiltration Trenches. These Infiltration Trenches have shown great effectiveness in capturing rainwater and conserving soil.

They allow water to be trapped and infiltrated, recharging the underground layers and thus preventing runoff. surface that causes erosion and soil loss.

In steeper sectors, the Ditches were complemented with the construction of Dams, which allow water to be retained from the streams and thus prevent its erosion due to surface runoff.< /p>

Located in a strategic location and with the application of nature-based techniques, the Water Park project was destined to become a milestone, a Model of Environmental Restoration and territorial occupation at the service of the community.

Unfortunately, the project was abruptly abandoned by the institution that financed it, however, the structures, the forestation and the design of a comprehensive Model remained.

Environmental Restoration Project and Public Park in the National Botanical Garden