Fundacion Terram

By Comunicaciones Terram

"Promoting Sustainable Development"
THE TERRAM FOUNDATIONOur Philosophy"…The proposition that must be kept present today is that there is not and there will never be any type of development if it is not understood that all public policy must be immersed in the “ecological issue” and that any avenue that departs from this idea inevitably will generate underdevelopment. To resolve environmental problems and to make the transition to a sustainable economy is an historic mandate and the only true and efficient way of achieving development…”

HISTORYTerram Foundation is a non-profit organization whose aim is to contribute to generate new proposals for the sustainable development of Chile. These proposals seek to meet the present generation needs not compromising the future generation’s right to enjoy higher degrees of welfare.The Foundation was created in 1997, as a result of the work and effort of a diverse group of professionals: Marcel Claude, economist; Pedro Serrano, engineer; Pablo Salvat, philosopher; Fernando Escobar, lawyer; Antonio Lara, forestry engineer; and Miriam Urzúa, architect.

From its early days, Terram has held a critical view of the neoliberal development model. New public policy proposals have been elaborated, in response to socio-environmental challenges. The priority activity is the creation of a space where to generate new ideas that in turn will contribute to formulate new proposals, thus renovating political, social, environmental and economic thought in Chile.Terram’s main fields of work are research, publications and outreach, within a scope of social and environmental justice. The work areas are democracy, promotion of citizens’ participation, social empowerment, prevention and improvement of living conditions, and conservation and protection of ecosystems within a framework of sustainability and efficiency as mainstream criteria for Chile’s sustainable development.Terram continuously interacts with various social organizations, as well as with Parliament and Government authorities, communities, the media and other national and international actors.Terram’s work is structured around four programmes: salmon farming, the environment, natural resources, and economics and globalization.THE WORK PROGRAMMESSalmon Farming ProgrammeThis programme’s objective is to research and disseminate material relating to labour and environmental conditions in the salmon farming industry. This programme has put for public information and debate a series of issues related to problems generated by the industry. To do so, several activities have been developed, such as: OLACH (Labour and Environmental Observatory of Chiloé Island), Oxfam 2006-2007; trial integrated sea farming project (integration of seaweed cultures for bioremediation around salmon farming net-pen systems), World Bank 2005; sustainable salmon farming campaign, 2002; seminar for salmon farming union leaders, 2005, amongst others.Environment ProgrammeThe objective of this programme is to periodically assess available information regarding environmental pollution, whether in air, water, soil or residues, thus to maintain a diagnosis and follow-up of the countries environmental situation. Also, all projects that enter the SEIA (Environmental Impacts Evaluation System) are closely monitors, with a special look at environmental conflicts that are generated around them. The programme monitors four areas: analysis and monitoring of environmental and institutional policies, environmental pollution, land use and environmental conflicts.
This area of work has developed several programmes, such as: RETC (Register of Pollutants) on a national scale, 2003-2006; Sustainable development policy, together with CONAMA (National Environment Commission); sanitary guide to facing environmental conflicts at government level (CONAMA); Environmental evaluation of Chile for the report prepared by OCDE in 2005, amongst others.Natural Resources ProgrammeThe objective of this programme is to generate a discussion around the development model based on the exploitation and exportation of the natural resources existing in Chile. A number of sustainable management proposals and analysis have been generated for each of the areas of work: mining, fisheries, and forestry. The programme also participates in the analysis and development of proposals for law projects such as, the Fisheries Bill, and the Project for a Native Forest Bill. Some of the activities these programme impulses, or have in the past, are: Campaign for a royalty in the mining sector; Campaign in defence of the Alerce tree (www.defensalerces.cl); international market campaign, with Forest Ethics, 2003.Economics and Globalization ProgrammeThe neoliberal model applied in Chile has repercussed in an enormous
Commercial aperture over the last 20 years. This is reflected, amongst others, by the signing of Free Trade Agreements wit the United States, European countries and Asian countries. This programme promotes a different vision on economic development that includes all society and that acts in harmony with the environment. Some of the activities developed are: Seminar on gender and work relations in a globalized world, with the support of the Henrich Böll Foundation, Foundation Humanas and Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, 2005; participation in the Chilean and World Social Forum’s.TERRAM PUBLICATIONS

Through the publication of its investigations and studies, Terram Foundation provides a service to organized communities, and people in general. Terram’s publications are classified as follows:News Analysis (ADC):
This publication develops themes related to economics, the environment, social issues and natural resources in a given time span. The evolution and important aspects of these conflicts are identified.Registry of Public Problems (RPP):
These investigations analyze socio-economic and environmental problems affecting the country. These studies formulate an integrated vision of each theme. They also generate proposals to be considered in public debates.Analysis of Public Policies (APP):
These studies describe and interpret; both technically and socially, some of the public policies the Government impulses. The areas studied are related to the work themes of the Foundation.