Sociedad Contractual Minera El Abra

About the Program
The Sociedad Contractual Minera El Abra program site is located in the Antofagasta region in northern Chile, near the border with Bolivia. The site encompasses a salt flat in the arid Atacama Desert. It is bordered by several high-altitude volcanoes. The aridity of the site causes the vegetation to grow sparsely, but there is a diversity of animal life, including flamingos, guanacos and many reptile species. The El Abra team seeks to aid the conservation of the region's wildlife and habitat by primarily monitoring and studying the current state of the ecosystem. The team also seeks to restore a fragile spring in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Practices and Impacts

• The team maintains a greenhouse for the purpose of growing Zameioscirpus atacamensis and Puccinellia frígida to transplant into the restored wetland ecosystem. 
• Some of the most charismatic animals that inhabit the salt flats are three species of flamingo. In order to support conservation of these three avian species, the team conducts a census of the flamingos in several sites twice per year. The team then uses the data collected to estimate the abundance of the different species and to model their population dynamics.
• The team performs relocation and replanting for two species of cacti: Maihueniopsis glomerata and Cumulopuntía boliviana (Opuntias). The team continues to monitor the survival and health of transplanted individuals with the goal of reducing the loss of genetic variability, mainly of species with conservation problems. 
• As part of a mitigation effort, the team has trapped and relocated small mammal and reptile species from an at-risk area. The individuals were moved from an area that will soon be converted by human use to an area that the team has determined has suitable habitat to support the added population.
• An indigenous community has inhabited the salt flat where the program site is located for generations. In order to encourage an exchange of knowledge between the team and the community, the team has sought to involve community members in an effort to grow native plants and then transplant them to a spring to restore its vegetation. This involves training in multiple techniques of plant care.