Abstract

In the municipality of Maullín, in the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile, a large wetland system has recently been granted protected status. In 2022, for example, a significant area of ​​this region was declared the Maullín River Wetlands Nature Sanctuary, reflecting a sociocultural drive to care for and protect these ecosystems. Within this context, this article explores the ecocultural background behind this declaration. Specifically, it aims to examine the growing social valuation the local community has placed on these wetlands. For these people, this environment is not merely an ecosystem service that benefits humankind; it is also a space imbued with intrinsic and symbolic meanings and values. To understand these values, semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who frequently interact with wetlands, environmental educators, and birdwatching tour operators. The results show that in the Maullín community, there are actions that seek to value and construct dual meanings regarding wetlands. On the one hand, they assign a commercial and instrumental value to them for their local economy based on fishing and tourism. But they also recognize an intrinsic and ecological value of wetlands and nature in general. The relevance of these findings lies in providing new knowledge from the Global South that allows us to reflect on the human perspective and practice regarding the valuation and conservation of wetlands. In particular, this perspective has great potential for global struggles against climate change and the Capitalocene.