A space for integrating biocultural conservation and social well-being at the southern extreme of
the Americas. Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
Appendix 2.Illustration of Omora’s Ten
Criteria to achieve biocultural
conservation and sustainability.
(1) Inter-institutional cooperation
(2) Participatory approach
(3) Interdisciplinary biocultural approach
(4) Networking and international cooperation
(5) Communication through the media
(6) Identification of a flagship species
(7) Curricular integration and intercultural education in the outdoors
(8) Economic sustainability and ecotourism
(9) Administrative sustainability
(10) Research and conceptual sustainability
At the Omora Park we have defined ten criteria
that guide the actions to implement
biocultural conservation and sustainable development
in Cape Horn.
(1) Inter-institutional cooperation
Multiple representatives from the Chilean government, the indigenous Yahgan Community, the Chilean navy, schools, public services, and other members of
international, national, regional and local institutions participated in the inauguration of the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in 2000.
Photo Marcelo Pérez (Photographic Archive La Prensa Austral ©).
Inter-institutional land tenure: The Omora Ethnobotanical Park constitutes a public-private reserve granted by the Ministry of National Land to the University of Magallanes and the Omora NGO, which protects the watershed that provides
drinking water to Puerto Williams (capital city of the Chilean Antarctic Province).Photo Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
The Yahgan Community built the entrance to the Omora Park, whichserves as a space for intergenerational education for the indigenous
Yahgan grandmothers, their daughters and granddaughters.
(2) Participatory approach
Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos inaugurating the entrance to the Omora Park with members of the Yahgan indigenous community, local volunteers,
students, provincial government staff, and researchers.
Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
The Yahgan grandmothers and other members of the indigenous community record and prepare educational materials on traditional ecological knowledge
together with ethno-ecologists, ornithologists, musicians, writers and recording engineers.
(3) Interdisciplinary biocultural approach
Photos Oliver Vogel, John Schwenk & Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
(4) Networkingand international
collaboration
Omora Park participates in several international networks, such as the
Latin American Network of Schoolyard Ecology,
coordinated by the National Audubon
Society.
(5) Communication
through the media
Communication through the media has enabled the Omora initiative to overcome the isolation of the remote austral
archipelago and to increase awareness and
appreciation of the “identity” of the Cape Horn region. Concepts
such as Yahgan traditional ecological
knowledge and biocultural conservation are now frequently used in regional newspapers
and television programs.
(6) Definition of a flagship species: the hummingbird omora
In Omora Park’s logo the hummingbird is depicted with the map of the southern tip of the Americas and the Antarctic
Peninsula in the background to emphasize the “topic,” place-based character of the Omora project, which aims to
go beyond a purely conceptual or “utopian” transdisciplinary approach. The circular shape of the logo
evokes the planet to symbolize the aim of integrating regional and global scales.
In the logo, the hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes) visits its preferred flower (Philesia magellanica), and carries a harpoon (a Yahgan hunting tool). In summary,
the hummingbird (omora in the Yahgan language) illustrates both biological and cultural values.
Omora provides the name for the park because its Yahgan story (Appendix 3) “embodies” in a comprehensive and appealing way the central goals of biocultural
conservation to achieve a current state of well-being for humans and the communities of other species.
Through its biocultural beauty omora captivates and unites a very diverse group of participants to support the cause of conservation, which is why the hummingbird
omora was identified as the flagship species for the park.
Master students and professors participate in
formal and informal education
programs, preparation of
educational materials, and
inform environmental
decision-making.
(7) Outdoor education
Photos Oliver Vogel & Steff van Dongen(Photo-graphic Archive Omora Ethno-botanical Park ©).
(8) Economic sustainability and ecotourism
Yahgan indigenoushandcraft;
Yacht navigations through the Cape Horn Archipelago;
local guides, students and visitors at the Omora Park.
Photos Oliver Vogel & Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
(9) Administrative sustainability
At the regional level a consensus has been achieved for the creation of the UNESCO Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.
Photos Leonardo Ramirez (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ©).
The administrative sustainability of the Omora initiative itselfincludes the construction of a new Center for Biocultural
Conservation and Environmental Philosophy (currently under construction).
In contrast with many traditional research stations in remote locations, the Omora Center is situated in the town of Puerto Williams to promote
interactions with authorities, the school and other actors of the local community in general.
(10) Conceptual sustainability: Research
Omora’s research on Yahgan traditional ecological knowledge has been essential to better understand and value the archipelago’s indigenous culture.
Collaborations include recording sessions such as pictured here with grandmother Cristina, her granddaughter, and ethno-ecologists.
Phot
o O
liver
Vog
el (
Phot
ogra
phic
Arc
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Om
ora
Ethn
obot
anic
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ark
©).
