«Paicaví Wetland Fights Back»: Community Organizes Against Threat of Large Real Estate Project

Original article: «El Humedal Paicaví se defiende»: Ciudadanía en Concepción se organiza ante amenaza de proyecto inmobiliario

Neighbors and Organizations Work to Halt 19-Tower Project on Wetland: “Saturating a Wetland is Not a Guarantee of Dignified Living”

In a day defined by environmental commitment, the Municipality of Concepción hosted a crucial Public Hearing on May 14, in the Hall of Honor, focusing on the ecological future of the community.

During the session, the organization Movement for the Defense of the Paicaví Wetland presented various arguments to the Municipal Council and the Mayor in a bid to definitively halt the proposed housing projects on this vital ecosystem.

The Biobío Wetlands Network also showed support, emphasizing that “local residents have organized to protect this ecosystem and demand that authorities listen to communities that have historically had to deal with flooding, waterlogging, and the challenges of living in a highly saturated area.”

Statement by Paula Arellano Uribe (President of the Mencía Neighborhood Association of Concepción):

See also the statement from Fernando Cortés

From the citizen movement, Paula Arellano Uribe, president of the Mencía Neighborhood Association of Concepción, warned in her address: “Wetlands are not just green areas with birds and waterfowl; they are vital water bodies essential for sound territorial planning. The development and growth of a city must go hand in hand with the protection and restoration of ecosystems that add value to a community.” She declared, “Saturating a wetland and a community is not a guarantee of well-being or dignified life.”

The municipality’s stance was equally firm. The Biobío Wetlands Network expressed hope in the words of the Mayor of Concepción, who stated a powerful phrase: “If they build on the Paicaví Wetland, we have failed as a city.” This declaration was appreciated by the organizations as a commitment to the protection of the ecosystem, community well-being, and the right to dignified housing.

Both the Movement for the Defense of the Paicaví Wetland and the Biobío Wetlands Network highlighted a shared warning: “It is the authorities who must ensure that the dream of owning a home does not turn into a nightmare marked by dampness, structural damage, and floods within a few years.” Each winter, the organizations reminded, heavy rainfall severely impacts those living in saturated zones, a situation that could worsen if the wetland continues to be filled and urbanized.

Finally, both organizations called for sustained civic action: “Citizens must continue to organize and defend their territories against projects that threaten fundamental ecosystems for addressing the climate crisis and safeguarding people’s quality of life.” The hearing left open the expectation for concrete measures that would harmonize urban development with the protection of wetlands.

Link to the full hearing:
📌 Full hearing available at: