Landau, October 9, 2025. As planned, the Yerba Buena Group has established the “Humboldt Archipelago” InfoPoint on the road to Chungungo (municipality of La Higuera). Its landmarks are 2.5-meter-tall pilpilén (1) sculptures that “force” passers-by to stop and invite them to read the information and take a seat to enjoy the special landscape. The municipality of La Higuera is proud of the information point about local natural treasures and invited citizens and political leaders to the inauguration on October 3, 2025. Sphenisco Chile published the following report on the opening on its website (2). For the texts of the information boards "The Humboldt Archipelago“ and ”Predominant Ecosystem in Yerba Buena,“ see the article ”InfoPoint Yerba Buena – Info Information."
Inauguration of the Yerba Buena Environmental Information Center: for the community of La Higuera a dream is coming true
The Yerba Buena Environmental Information Center was inaugurated with enthusiasm and a strong sense of community. The aim of the InfoPoint is to contribute to environmental education and support the protection of the Humboldt Archipelago and coastal flora. The center was established by the Osorio family and the Yerba Buena Cultural, Social, and Environmental Association with the support of Sphenisco Chile, the Frankfurt Zoo, and the community of La Higuera.
At the opening, which was attended by representatives of authorities and institutions, artists, and local residents, this place was honored as a meeting point for science, culture, and nature. Its landmark is the sculpture of a Pilpilén family (1) with the aim of informing people about the ecological role of birds and promoting their protection. The three sculptures were created by Alexis Araya. The artist made the sculptures entirely from recycled plastic to represent the connection between art, recycling, and environmental awareness.
Jessica Osorio González, chairwoman of the Yerba Buena Group, called the project a milestone for the community of La Higuera: "A dream come true. The association, family, and community wanted this place to be a place where people can stop and learn about all the wonderful things we have concerning flora and fauna in the Humboldt Archipelago." The chairwoman added: "The work was thoroughly planned and carried out with great care by the artists involved. They understood exactly how important this project is to us. They contributed all their talent and dedication to make it a success."
Mayor Uberlinda Aquea Barraza highlighted the commitment of the municipality of La Higuera to sustainable development: "The Yerba Buena cultural and environmental group, founded by the wonderful Osorio family, has been working to protect the environment for a long time, and this environmental information center is simply wonderful. ... it is exactly what we as an administration want: to promote the importance of our landscapes and fauna, including tourism, in a responsible and sustainable way."
Nancy Duman, president of Sphenisco Chile, emphasized the cooperation between the local community and environmental organizations, especially the support provided by Frankfurt Zoo, in achieving this goal: "It is a very important day for us, but also for the entire community of La Higuera. A long-standing dream has come true: here in Yerba Buena, with its flora and fauna, the first information center in the Humboldt Archipelago has been opened. The inauguration, with dreams coming true, shows that when a community wants to achieve something, it can overcome all difficulties if it sticks together. This is the start of more centers for environmental information in the community."
From a nature conservation perspective, Carla Louit Lobos, head of the protected areas department at CONAF Region Coquimbo (3), explained: "It is very moving to witness the inauguration, to learn about the work of various associations and groups that have created such a sensitive and artistic presentation. It is imbued with the spirit of nature conservation and highlights the ecological heritage of this important and unique area. This fills us with joy. We are very happy that this day has finally come."
Visual artist Alexis Araya Tapia from Barrancas Theme Park explained the significance of his work: "It gives me enormous pleasure that people believed in an artist. When I got to know this place (Yerba Buena), I really liked the people, it was great, and I fell in love with it immediately. The project originally only envisaged one pilpilén, but based on the experiences of the park's group, we came to the conclusion that it would be much better to create a family, because the theme of family promotes conversation and cohesion." Regarding the theme park's work, Araya explained: "The art we create is made from plastic waste... and we transform this trash that nobody wants into sculptures."
Finally, Alejandro Ramos, art historian and representative of "Harto Arte Proyectos“ (4), praised the symbolic significance of this initiative: ”It is a particularly important milestone, not only for culture or the region, but above all for the protection of the ecology, local flora, and fauna. I believe that the creation of this place, which is supported and protected by the community, is an important anchor point. It is a great honor for our association to be involved and to promote all these wonderful species that we have here."
With its opening, the Yerba Buena Environmental Information Center is establishing itself as a place of knowledge, education, and reflection, strengthening local identity and the commitment of the La Higuera community to protecting the Humboldt Archipelago. The Yerba Buena Group took the opportunity to express its gratitude for the support received from Germany, in particular from Sphenisco e.V. and Frankfurt Zoo. This support has enabled us to realize our dream.
Excursus “About the Osorio family”
On the one hand, this center is the realization of the dream of the first Osorio to live here. He was the grandfather, father, and uncle of this family. Over time, it became important to him to protect this place, whose richness he discovered in everyday life together with his wife as he listened to the singing of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, and the voices of the sea. On the other hand, there is the dream of his descendants to realize this longed-for protection. Even descendants who do not live here believe that it is urgently necessary to inform people about nature conservation in an original and creative , while respecting local identity. Thus, this center was created—the result of a joint effort in Yerba Buena— as a tribute to the protection, education, and appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of the region, a tribute that highlights the flora and fauna of Yerba Buena and the Humboldt Archipelago."
Sphenisco Chile
Notes
For better readability, the generic masculine form is used in this article. Unless otherwise indicated, the personal pronouns used in this article refer to all genders.
(1) Pilpilén. Name for the brown-coated oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), a species of the oystercatcher family native to North, Central, and South America.
(2) Translation (with Deepl) of the article "Inauguración del Centro de Interpretación Ambiental Yerba Buena: un sueño hecho realidad para la comunidad de La Higuera" on the Sphenisco Chile website. https://www.sphenisco.cl
(3) CONAF - Corporación Nacional Forestal (National Forestry Corporation) is responsible for implementing forestry policy, protecting biodiversity, and promoting the sustainable development of forestry in Chile. The corporation's tasks also include the administration of Chilean national parks, nature reserves, and national monuments.
(4) “Harto Arte Proyectos” is a non-profit art and culture association consisting of artists and young people who are committed to preserving local culture, tradition, and the environment, as well as supporting endangered or vulnerable people and communities.
translated by Angelika Veelken using/reviewing deepl.com
