About Us
The Wine, Climate Change and Biodiversity Programme is a scientific initiative developed by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) and Universidad Austral de Chile. It aims to show the compatibility between biodiversity conservations and the development of the Chilean wine industry.
Our Work
We research the capacity of ecological systems to provide ecosystem services to the wine industry, taking into account its vulnerability to the current scenarios of climate change and anthropic impact over the next few decades.
We propose improvements to vineyard designs and management practices to minimise the impact of agriculture on biodiversity.
We provide environmental education and activities to promote ecological sciences and the value of biodiversity.
We give advice to the wine industry on creating biodiversity-protected areas and on ecosystem services.
Our History
This initiative was developed by a group of scientists interested in global change, specifically climate change, evident in the contribution of the land and oceans, water resources, atmospheric chemistry and socio-ecological systems, which all have a direct impact on human health. In 2008, as a result of their interest in global change, the Wine, Climate Change and Biodiversity Programme was created to work towards biodiversity conservation, by studying and assessing natural ecosystems and their benefits. This Programme was developed by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, financed by the CONICYT Baseline Fund and it was led by the ecologists Dr Olga Barbosa and Dr Pablo Marquet.Why choose Wine?
The Mediterranean ecosystem, the birthplace of global wine production, covers 5% of the planet and it only occurs in 5 regions of the world: the Mediterranean Basin, California and Baja California (the Californias), Australia, the Cape Region of South Africa and Central Chile. Chile’s Mediterranean region is located between the southern bank of Choapa River and the northern bank of the Biobío River. It has clearly marked seasons: cold and rainy winters, warm and dry summers. This creates ideal conditions for wildlife diversity; 23% of vascular plants are endemic, these species are unique and distinctive in Chilean forests and sclerophyllous vegetation.