The National Congress of Native Flora of Chile wins the National Environmental Prize 2023

The history of the National Congress of Native Flora of Chile (CNFN) begins in 2008, when a group of professionals from academia and the private world participated in similar congresses in Brisbane, Australia (2005) and Córdoba, Argentina (2005). , 2007), both occurrences refer to the native flora of those countries.

The dream was to generate an example of meeting, linking and dialogue between different national actors concerned with native flora in an inclusive and transversal way: academics, researchers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, students, naturalists, scholars, or simply lovers of our flora,

The initial founding committee, the managers of the CNFN, was made up of the following experts:

– From Eduardo Ollet and Constanza Sepúlveda, Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

– Flavia Schiapacace, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Talca

– Monica Musalem, director of nurseries and gardens Pumahuida Ltd.

The CNFNs held so far and their locations, in addition to their themes, have been:

• 2008: First CNFN, P. Catholic University of Chile. Santiago “Where We Are and Where We’re Going”

• 2011: Second CNFN, P. Catholic University of Valparaíso. Quilota. “In the Year of the Bicentennial… To Appreciate What Is Ours”

• 2013: 3rd CNFN, University of Chile. Santiago. “From Speech to Action: Responsibility in the Sustainable Use of Our Resources”

• 2015: 4th CNFN, University of Concepción. “Is it possible to develop a sustainable and competitive commercial activity based on native species? A new look at the national experience”

• 2017: Fifth CNFN, University of La Serena. Calm To give importance to the conservation, use and management of native flora from the point of view of sustainable development.

• 2019: 6th CNFN, Talca University. “Towards a New Way of Relating to Our Flora; widening the gaze”

• 2022: Seventh CNFN, Central Univ. Santiago. “Landscape in Change in the Face of Global Change”,

The idea is to gradually replace the host institution, adding work teams in different areas, and thus decentralizing the initiative. Fifteen years have already passed since the first Congress, with seven editions held every two years. New generations of students (to whom scholarships are awarded), entrepreneurs, artists, nurserymen and researchers have approached the world of native flora from which this great family has grown. Dedicated to discovering, valuing and caring for the nation’s beautiful native plant heritage.

A concrete result of these congresses is the publication of the papers presented; In some cases extended summaries of all papers are published in the Chilean Agricultural Society’s Seed Journal, in some cases in the book of congress abstracts itself, and in three volumes. The latest edition of Congress (2022) is available at the following link:

In 2019, and with a view to being able to project Congress into the future, the Advisory Council was formed, with four advisors from different regions of the Native Flora world. It was composed of:

• Dr. Josephina Hepp, Agricultural Engineer, Chilco Foundation.
• Daniel Green, Forest Engineer, Meristema Consultants.
• Juan Laren, landscape ecologist, independent consultant.
• Dr. Nicolás García, Engineer in Renewable Natural Resources, Academic at the University of Chile.

They are certain that sharing perspectives and knowledge through the CNFN is a great contribution to continuing learning, creating space and finding joint pathways to care for and conserve our native flora. ,

2023 National Environment Awards – Recyclepolis

The prize, as they say at the Foundation of the same name, “has positioned itself as the main sustainability prize in the country. […] Its objective is to recognize and disseminate the strategic guidelines of Chilean entities with a commitment to sustainability and care for the environment.

The categories of water, air, fire, earth, culture, new generation, tourism and electromobility are defined; Furthermore, each one has subcategories of SMEs or start-ups, large companies, foundations, students, public entities or natural persons.

In terms of culture, these are cultural initiatives that allow Educating and sensitizing the community about caring for the environment, Briefly in this category, a jury composed of 19 personalities from the world of business and environment, and Under the leadership of the president of Recyclápolis Fernando Nilo, decided to award the CNFN, The award ceremony, in its eighth edition, took place on Tuesday, May 9 at the Municipal Theater of Las Condes. There, he received the Monica Musallem and Flavia Schiapace Awards; He was accompanied by members of the advisory committee and academicians from the University of Chile, P. Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and U. De la Serena was also there.