Long Term Human Transformation of the Atacama Desert

Abstract

Recently Gerardo Ceballos, Senior Researcher at the Instituto de Ecología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Institute of Ecology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico), stated that the sixth mass extinction of species and populations is one of the greatest environmental challenges of the 21st century. Human activities over the last five centuries have caused an enormous loss of species essential for human well-being. In this talk we try to show that, like many ecosystems on the planet (deserts of Australia, or the Amazon), the Atacama Desert is a human product that has been co-evolving since the first occupations at the end of the Pleistocene, and where human activity has become increasingly demanding and impactful from the 19th century to the present day.

This seminar is an in-person event only. All are welcome to attend.