Tunquén Wetland

This wetland is formed where the Estero Casablanca reaches the Pacific Ocean at Tunquén, the last beach in the area which is holding out against urban sprawl and other deteriorating activities such as the proliferation of 4x4 vehicles.

The Foundation is working to bring together members of the local community, goberment agencies and the landowners to agree plans for conservation.

Characteristics of the area
(Liliana Iturriaga, Botanical-Landscaper, December 3, 2004)

Tunquén Wetland Pictures

Aextoxicon punctatum

Astragaluscomposici

Wetland barrier Estero Casablanca

Opening Estero Casablanca

Opening to the sea Estero Casablanca

Ecotone Tunquen beach

Seagull of Franklin

Seagull Garuma

Lizard

Mero

Patos Reales on flight

Patos Reales Tunquen Wetland

Pilpilen couple

Tunquén beach

Tunquen is the only beach of the Chilean central coast that has not been converted into a resort yet.

In the north extreme of this beach is the opening of the Estero Casablanca that forms a lagoon, ecologically named Tunquen Wetland.

This wetland is opened to the sea in the autumn and winter months; in the spring and summer time it closes its way out to the sea increasing the area of the wetland.
Its main function is to be a reservoir of biological diversity.

Biological characteristics

The Tunquen wetland is a biological corridor, according to investigations of H. Cofre and Iturriaga et al 2001, with great concentration of fauna, specially vertebrates, birds, reptiles, amphibious and mammals, that inhabit the wetland and the gorges with native forest near the wetland; outstanding are the birds of the forest, sensitive to the fragmentation of the habitat, for example, Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii and Columba araucana, that are favored by using the wetland as a natural corridor between the gorges of the central coast. The Tunquen Wetland is a biological corridor between the coastal wetlands like El Yali, opening of Maipo River, Cartagena Lagoon, El Peral Lagoon, essential for birds, in particular for migrating birds, that visit our country on spring and summer, like Calidris bairdii, BirdLarus pipixcan, Seagull of Franklin; Numenius phaeopus, Zarapito and others.

Ecology

The Tunquen wetland is a delicate ecosystem because of the fragility showed by its ecotone because of the growing threat linked to human activities. It is an area in the process of destruction, because of the real state pressure in the central coast, for the extraction of arid in the nearer dunes, for the transit of 4x4 vehicles, for the non regulated camping, fishing and hunting.

Landscaping and conservation value

This zone has a high landscaping value and a medium high fragility; this means that the area does not present a capability of absorption to visual impacts generated by men or capability of response to face the changes presented in the environment, like the real state or the extraction of sand, that would end up in a diminishing of the landscaping qualities.

This is mainly because the area is privileged by its beautiful panoramic views and its natural landscapes.

Biodiversity

The Tunquen area presents a Flora and vegetation, like the bush esclerófilo arborescente in the north slope, south slope and gorges, various herbs ornament this area like the long leaves Violet Tecophilaea viololiflora, Tear of the Virgin Oziroe biflora y various bulbs like Phycella bicolor y P. ignea.

Here there are many species in conservation category like: Wild Lucumo, Pouteria splendens vulnerable in national level, huillipatagua Citronella mucronata specie catalogued as rare, the Chaguales Puya chilensis and P. berteroniana vulnerable on a national level, the Quiscos Echinopsis coastal and Quisquitos Neoporteria subgibbosa vulnerable on a regional level, and Lahues Calydorea xiphioides in danger of extinction and the Petrillos Myrceugenia rufa, rare. Fig 3, Table Nº3.

Also outstanding for their beauty in this dunes the Liutos de arena, Alstroemeria hookerii subespecie recumbens, that is in the category of vulnerable on a national level (Iturriaga et al 2001). And a reduced population of the Blue Huilmo Sisyrinchium chilense in category of conservation as rare, and they are affected by the cows shepherding.

Dunes

The dunes of Tunquen beach are not well stabilized, in a geomorphologic way the dunes would be very fragile. In the north side of the beach there is a clear herbaceous formation that corresponds to a meadow that grows over the newest dune, widely dominating all weeds. The most abundant species are Clonquis Ambrosia chamissonis, Leucerias Leuceria cerberoana, Suspiros del mar Nolana paradoxa, and Liutos de arena, Alstroemeria hookerii subespecie recumbens, which is found in the vulnerable category on a national level.

Ecotone

The ecotone of the wetland is dominated by totora that borders the most of the wetland banks that corresponds to a low vegetal ligneous formation, herbaceous and dense. The predominant species are Batros Scirpus americanus, Scirpus americanus var. monophyllus, the Juncos Juncus arcticus and a very particular succulent herbaceous Selliera radicans. This place is very important for nest building of the Trile Agelaius thilius, seven colors bird Tachuris rubrigastra, Pidén Pardirallus saguinolentus and others.

The vegetation sector that is between the crossing of the estero Casablanca with the F-818 and the opening of the estero, outstands for the presence of various bushes the Paramela Adesmia balsamica that is in the category of conservation, rare. It is also interesting the presence of Arrayancillos mirtácea in this place, the Myrceugenia lanceolata and Nalcas or Pangues Gunnera magellanica.

Categories of Conservation

In Tunquén exists 17 species of plants endangered according to the Libro Rojo de la Flora de Chile (CONAF, 1989) and Libro rojo de la CONAMA (Boletín Museo Nacional de Historia natural, N º 1998).

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