The Renaico River originates in the foothills known as the Cordillera de Pemehue, just to the west of the Andes. It is approximately 130 km long, and serves as the border between two regions of Chile: the Araucanía and the Biobío. It then flows into the Vergara River. The Renaico and its tributaries cross the towns of Mulchén and Nacimiento, in the Biobío Region, and then the towns of Collipulli, Angol, and Renaico, in the Araucanía Region.
The Renaico River is located in Mapuche territory, which is also known as Wallmapu. This land was recognized as the sovereign, independent property of the Mapuche people by the Spanish crown in 1641 [1], after the Mapuche fought against colonization for one hundred years.
In the 19th century, the Republic of Chile carried out a military occupation [2] of Wallmapu, which ended with the annexation of Mapuche territory to the Chilean state. During this period, interest arose in planting non-native trees in Chilean soil, “to stop erosion and provide urban centers and their industrial activity with wood and fuel” [3]. This erosion was due to the extensive deforestation of native tree species that had been taking place since the Spanish colonial period. Between the 16th and the 19th centuries, forests were burned “in order to clear lands for agriculture and the grazing of domestic animals” [4]. Extensive areas of forest were cut down to build homes in urban centers and fuel the country’s burgeoning mining industry. At the turn of the 20th century, the first plantations of eucalyptus and pine trees were established in Chile. Once the logging company known as Sociedad Forestal Mininco was founded, in the Biobío Region in 1947, the area around the Renaico River basin entered an era of increased extractivism.
Radiata pine plantation
In the background, a large pine plantation. Small eucalyptus trees in the foreground
Currently, the logging industry exists in Chile from the Maule Region all the way south to the Los Lagos Region.
However, many people are replanting native tree species. Meanwhile, the Mapuche population has been fighting for the restitution of its native land—and against violent police repression by different governments of Chile—since the restoration of the country’s democracy in 1990.
On the banks of the Renaico River, in the Collipulli area, there are still a number of Mapuche communities, despite the fact that many have migrated to the cities—with the dissolution of the social fabric that this migration often entails.
(3) See Pablo Camus, Sergio A. Castro & Fabián Jaksic, Historia y política de la gestión forestal en Chile a la luz del pino insigne (Pinus radiata). Invasiones biológicas en Chile: Causas globales e impactos locales, 2014
(4) See Juan Armesto, Carolina Villagrán, & Claudio Donoso, Desde la era glacial a la industrial: La historia del bosque templado chileno, 1994, and Miguel Escalona Ulloa & Jonathan R. Barton, ‘Oro verde’: la invención del paisaje forestal en Wallmapu/Araucanía, sur de Chile, 2021.
The Renaico River is the backbone of our territory, given that it has supported the development of human and non-human life. In short, the river takes care of us. This aquatic spinal column is a gathering space for different communities of human beings, animal and vegetable species, and others. We understand this diversity in a holistic, unfragmented way. For simplicity’s sake, we have grouped the descriptions of the Renaico River’s social ecosystem into different communities and topics. Most of the species we describe in what follows are located in the Malleco National Reserve.
We have grouped the description of the social ecosystem of the Renaico River by communities or themes for a better reading comprehension:
1. Forest, animal and fungi communities
2. Community of birds
Most of the species described below are located in the Malleco National Reserve.
The Renaico River is part of what ecologists refer to as a “temperate forest.” Forests of this type are located in temperate areas of both the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet, outside of the tropics. They are characterized by abundant precipitation and cold winter temperatures. In the summers, they are warm and there is less rain. In Chile, there are a number of temperate forests, extending from the Maule Region to the south, all the way to Patagonia (in the Aysén and Magallanes Regions). One example of this is the forest of Chile’s central zone: the deciduous forests that the Renaico River flows through. There, we can find species such as the coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), the oak (Nothofagus obliqua), and the raulí (Nothofagus alpina). There is one particular kind of temperate forest at the source of the Renaico River: the deciduous Andean forest, with species like the monkeypuzzle (Araucaria araucana), known in Chile as the araucaria, or (its Mapuche name) the pehuén.
A key characteristic of the temperate forest in this region of the continent is its large number of endemic species: species whose natural habitat is limited to that specific area. 90% of trees and shrubs, 50% of freshwater fish, and 76% of amphibians in this forest are unique to this region and/or do not exist in other parts of the planet [1]. Chile’s temperate forests are also considered to be biodiversity “hotspots” [2], that is, places where a wealth of native species are currently endangered.
The forests have an important role to play in the water cycle. The tree roots filter sediment, preventing it from accumulating at the riverbed where it might contaminate the water. This allows the water to flow freely into the water table, carrying nutrients with it that enrich the soil. The tree roots are also natural barriers that prevent the soil close to the riverbank from eroding, which is what happens when storms occur. The forests also encourage the rain through evapotranspiration [3], that is, the evaporation of bodies of water (oceans, rivers, lakes, etc.) and the transpiration of the plants themselves. This process is important for water balance, humidity, and climate regulation.
As far as human life is concerned, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated in 2022 that “forest and mountain ecosystems are the sites of more than 75% of renewable water sources, supplying water to more than half of the world’s population,” and that “the principal hydrographic basins that have a tree cover loss rate of over 50% run a greater risk of erosion, forest fires, and basic water stress” [4].
Native Trees in the Forest:
Sclerophyll Trees:
Boldo (Peumus boldus), Vachellia caven (Acacia caven), Litre trees (Lithrea caustica), Mayten trees (Maytenus boaria), Chilean citronella (Citronella mucronata), Chilean acorn (Cryptocarya alba), and Soap bark (Quillaja saponaria).
Deciduous Trees:
Chilean cedar (Austrocedrus chilensis), Coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), Chilean laurel (Laurelia sempervirens), Lingue (Persea lingue), Chilean plum yew (Prumnopitys andina), Willow-leaf podocarp (Podocarpus salignus), Piñol (Lomatia dentata), Queule (Gomortega keule), Radal (Lomatia hirsuta), Raulí (Nothofagus alpina), and Patagonian oak (Nothofagus obliqua).
“Arrayán” (Luma apiculata) painting by Elvira Henríquez Trees in the Patagonian Forests:
Monkeypuzzle (Araucaria araucana), Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), Chilean firetree (Embothrium coccineum), and Southern beech (Nothofagus antarctica).
Selected Fungi Communities
Changle (Ramaria flava) and digüeñe (Cyttaria espinosae).
Fish Communities
The following are fish species native to the Renaico:
Velvet catfish (Diplomystes nahuelbutaensis and Diplomystes Camposensis), Mountain catfish (Nematogenys inermis), Catfish (Bullockia maldonadoi), Pencil catfish (Trichomycterus areolatus), Carmelita (Percilia gillissi), Cauque (Odontesthes mauleanum), Farionela (Aplochiton taeniatus), Farionela listada (Aplochiton zebra), Chilean lamprey (Mordacia lapicida), Loa silverside (Basilichthys semotilus), Pocha de los Lagos (Cheirodon galusdae), and Pocha del sur (Cheirodon australe).
The following are non-native fish species found in the Renaico:
Chameleon cichlid (Australoheros facetum), Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp), Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), Ten spotted live-bearer (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus), Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), Killifish (Jenynsia multidentata), Uruguay tetra (Cheirodon interruptus), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio).
Perca Trucha (Percichthys trucha) drawing by Daniela Fuentes
Mammalian Communities
Mammals in the region include: South Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus), Long-haired grass mouse (Abrothrix longipilis), Pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo), Large long-clawed mouse (Chelemys megalonyx), Valdivian long-clawed akodont (Geoxus valdivianus), Southern big-eared mouse (Loxodontomys micropus), Chilean rock rat (Aconaemys fuscus), Pudú (Pudu puda), Puma (Puma concolor), Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), Kodkod (Leopardus guigna), Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga), Lesser grison (Galictis cuja), Colocolo opossum (Dromiciops gliroides), Southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), Chilean climbing mouse (Irenomys tarsalis), Olive grass mouse (Abrothrix olivacea), Nutria (Myocastor coypus), Bridges’s degu (Octodon bridgesii), South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus), Southern river otter (Lontra Provocax).
“Pumas” painting by Elvira Henriquez“Zorro” painting by Elvira Henriquez
Reptile Communities
En la comunidad de reptiles se encuentran especies como: culebra de cola larga (Philodryas chamissonis), culebra de cola corta (Tachymenis chilensis), lagarto chileno (Liolaemus chiliensis), lagartija de vientre azul (liolaemus cyanogaster), lagartija pintada (Liolaemus pictus), lagartija lemniscata (Liolaemus lemniscatus), lagartija esbelta (Liolaemus tenuis), gruñidor del sur (Pristidactylus torquatus), lagartija de Schröeder (Liolaemus schroederi), lagartija de vientre anaranjado (Liolaemus pictus).
Amphibian Communities
En la comunidad de anfibios se encuentran especies como: ranita de darwin (Rhinoderma darwinii), sapo de barros (Alsodes barrioi), rana arbórea (Hylorina sylvatica), rana moteada (Batrachyla leptopus), sapo de cuatro ojos del sur (Pleurodema bufoninum), sapo de cuatro ojos del norte (Pleurodema thaul), rana de ceja (Batrachyla taeniata), rana chilena (Calyptocephalella gayi).
“Sapito de cuatro ojos” drawing by Daniela Fuentes
Flora and fauna don’t just lend a touch of beauty to a particular territory; they also serve essential functions for the ecosystems they inhabit. When we recognize every form of life around us, we not only deepen our understanding of nature—we also learn to better understand our territory and enrich our identity.
On the banks of the Renaico River, located in the town of the same name, you can find beautiful, diverse ecosystems that offer the perfect scenario for a family-oriented afternoon. There are many bird species in the area whose populations have shrunk notably due to human intervention. Even so, they persist thanks to the riches of the Renaico River Basin. The river’s path from east to west is a long one, meaning that the different species of birds that can be found along its course are varied, changing according to seasonal migratory patterns.
“Mirlo”, painting by Roberto Flores
The Renaico Riverbank serves as a refuge and a feeding area for species like the Ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata stellata), the Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), the Great egret (Ardea alba), the Dark-bellied cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus), and the Bronze-winged duck (Speculanas specularis). These birds spend most of their time either on the riverbank or in the water itself, as key regulators of the population of invertebrates, amphibians, and fish. Many of them also stand out for their beauty, as is the case of the Ringed kingfisher, which consistently attracts birdwatchers and photographers. We can thus consider these birds an important tourist attraction.
Martín Pescador, painting by Rodrigo Prado
Pato Jergón Grande, wall painting by Roberto Flores
In the ecosystems around the river basin, we can find wetlands that support life all year long. The species that can be found in the wetlands are in a co-evolutionary relationship with other life forms nearby, so the imminent disappearance of these areas wouldn’t just affect the survival of one particular species—it would affect a number of them. We can find species there such as the Spectacled tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus), the White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), the Black-faced ibis (Theristicus melanopis) and the Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), for whom these wetlands function as much as a feeding ground as they do as a nesting area.
Along the river there are also meadows ideal for birds like the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) to find hidden places to nest. The Chilean tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria), the Austral thrush (Turdus falklandii), and the Eared dove (Zenaida auriculata) also inhabit this area. Most of the birds here belong to the order of passeriformes—they are small, with large wings and four toes. Some of them travel in large flocks, entertaining us every spring with their beautiful songs: these include the Diuca finch (Diuca diuca), the Rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis chilensis), the Long-tailed meadowlark (Leistes loyca), the Grassland yellow finch (Sicalis luteola), the Austral blackbird (Curaeus curaeus), and the Black-chinned siskin (Spinus barbatus).
Despite ongoing human intervention in the area surrounding the river, some traces of native forest can still be found, which offer wooded ecosystems for species like the Rufous-legged owl (Strix rufipes), the Chilean hawk (Accipiter chilensis), the Rufous-tailed hawk (Buteo ventralis), and the White-throated hawk (Buteo albigula), all of which visit every summer. Although these birds of prey are of different species, they share one particular characteristic: they make their homes in the forest. This means that their relationship with the native trees is much closer than that of other birds. This is why it’s so important to protect and restore the Renaico River basin.
Hummingbird, drawing by Rodrigo Prado
The presence (or absence) of these birds is an indicator of the relative health of the ecosystem, since they are at the top of the food chain and thus regulate the populations of the organisms they feed upon.
The Renaico River is home to a rich biodiversity that urgently needs protection, given the advance of extractivism that has rapidly changed the configuration of the landscape. It’s important for the community to show interest in the area’s wildlife, whether on their own or with the help of organizations like the “Save the Renaico River Social Collective.”
It’s up to each and every one of us to take care of our surroundings. Once we have detailed knowledge of the species that inhabit them, we will understand that there are countless reasons to preserve it for future generations.
Loica (long-tailed meadowlark) drawing by Rodrigo Prado
The Renaico River is primarily fed by rainwater, so its current increases during the wintertime. This region has a temperate, albeit rainy, oceanic climate, meaning that the seasons here are clearly differentiated: it rains a lot during the winter and then more sporadically during the summer. However, as with the rest of the country, this region has been affected by a 14-year drought. The summers are becoming increasingly longer, hotter, and drier; the winters are becoming increasingly shorter and drier.
The water of the Renaico River is mainly extracted by the logging industry and used to irrigate large plots of farmland. To a lesser extent, its water is also used for human consumption and the irrigation of smaller, family-owned plots of land. In Chile, these latter farmers are organized into Rural Potable Water Associations (known by their Spanish-language acronym APR) [1].
(1) Rural Potable Water Associations (Asociaciones de agua potable rural, or APR): organizations recognized by the government that are charged with operating and administering the potable water and wastewater systems in a particular geographic area. For more information, see: https://doh.mop.gob.cl/SSR/index.html
The word Renaico comes from the word Renaiko in Mapudungun, the native language of the Mapuche. In what follows we will include multiple interpretations and translations of the word in Spanish, with the understanding that “translating” an indigenous language is no easy task, due to the cultural differences and varying cosmovisions involved in approaching the language.
According to Juan Ñanculef, a Mapuche linguist who studies Mapudungun, the word Renaiko is made up of two words: Renai and Ko. In Spanish translation, Renai would be a verb describing the natural upspringing of water—a horizontal upspringing that happens completely naturally, without human intervention. The word Ko means water. The “upspringing of much water” in this territory makes a great deal of sense, because the Renaico River is linked to a number of different water systems, including the Negro, Amargos, Vergara, and Mininco Rivers, the Tijeral, Quilquihuenco, and Huapitrio Estuaries, and the Infiernillos Creek.
Another theory about the origin of the word Renaico comes from the collection of graphemes known as Azümchefe [1], the Mapudungun writing system. Here, the word Renaico is translated into Spanish as “water in a cave, watershed, or spring.” During the occupation of the Araucanía Region led by the settler Cornelio Saavedra, the Mapuche took refuge—or simply made their homes—in caves that formed naturally along the riverbanks.
The word “cave” is related to the Renaico River, since—according to Mapuche cosmovision—the Ngen-Ko [2] inhabited caves underneath the river. The term Ngen-Ko could be translated as “water spirits.”
The problems facing the Renaico River are manifold: it is impacted by a global drought, which is exacerbated by the extraction of its water by private businesses in the area, including CMPC [1] (which has the right to “consume” 1,700 liters per second from the river) and the Mininco lumber company. These companies have a history of polluting local area water sources, such as the Tijeral Estuary, which is an important source of water for the irrigation needs of local farmers.
Industrial vats, owned by the CMPC Corporation, located next to the Renaico River
Mininco and CMPC are part of the Matte Holding Company, owned by one of Chile’s three most powerful families, according to Forbes Magazine. Matte produces cellulose and owns thousands of hectares (which was once native land, which the Mapuche indigenous group is currently fighting to get back), where it grows non-native species such as Pinus radiata (pine) y Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus). These trees consume approximately 20 liters of water per day.
A barrier built by the CMPC Corporation to collect and extract river water
Another problem is the deterioration of the watershed due to the extraction of sand and gravel, which are then used to build wind farms in the area. More than 300 windmill towers have been built, ruining dozens of underground aquifers in the process. Local leaders have shown little commitment to the area, in this sense, and the current Local Development Plan’s explicit promotion of “green” energy initiatives has confused area residents [2].
Wind propellers in a residential neighborhood
The energy produced by these large projects goes to Chile’s main power grid, where it is used by businesses and the local population. But if we analyze the data from the 2020 Energy Statistical Yearbook, produced by Chile’s Enery Ministry [3], we find that in 2020, the demand for energy from the grid reached 44%, its highest level in the previous decade. Of this percentage, 16% went to residential use, 37% to the mining sector, and the rest to industry. This means that the other 56% of Chile’s energy capacity, which is from renewable sources, is not being used for the objectives it is meant for.
According to the government [4], the plan is for public-private partnerships to use this remaining energy capacity to produce green hydrogen for export. These statistics show that the energy produced by Renaico’s wind farms is therefore not for use within Chile.
Another problem is the didymus bloom: a type of algae that alters the water quality and plant and animal habitats. This affects biodiversity, limiting the growth of other kinds of algae and reducing—or even killing—macroinvertebrates (insects, crustaceans, and freshwater snails, among others), while damaging feeding areas and fish reproduction.
The Agua Viva hydroelectric dam project would have been build just a few kilometers from the river’s source. The project was conceived with a number of irregularities, because it would have stood in an area with a high density of protected flora, fauna, and fungi. The dam was just 500 meters away from the Malleco National Reserve, and one kilometer away from the river, out of the 4.7 kilometers which would dry up. This entire area was part of the Araucaria Biosphere Reserve, which is internationally recognized by UNESCO. The dam project, first presented in 2013, was approved in 2017 by Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Service, and—among other legal breaches—it was not subject to the approval of the indigenous people living in the area. This meant that the Mapuche communities located in the Miguel Huentelén area (also known as Collipulli) were on alert to defend the Renaico River. However, the dam project was withdrawn by its parent company, Agua Viva S.A., due to protests.
[1] CMPC (Spanish: Compañía Manufacturera de Papeles y Cartones) is a Chilean pulp and paper company, being the biggest worldwide according Forbes Global 2000 2018 ranking. It is engaged in integrated forest industry, which operates as a holding company through four business centers: Forestry, Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, and Tissue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMPC_(company)
[2] One objective of the 2016-2020 Local Development Plan (known by its Spanish-language acronym PLADECO) was to “encourage the diversification of the regional energy grid, emphasizing non-conventional renewable energy sources and efficient energy use.” This was the last of the plan’s objectives, as stated in Table 2 of the section “Sustainable Development of Cities and Territories” (“Strategic Guidelines and Specific Objectives of the Regional Development Strategy (EDR)”), p. 113.
