Project stages
Stage 1: Diagnosis and characterization of the mountain STKI ecosystem | 2022-2023 2022-2023
To strengthen the knowledge base of the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory through a comprehensive diagnosis of through a comprehensive diagnosis of the science, technology, knowledge and innovation (STKI) ecosystem linked to the mountain territories of southern Chile. This stage made it possible to identify key stakeholders, existing capacities, ongoing initiatives, coordination gaps and opportunities for collaboration, generating evidence to guide strategic planning and decision-making.
Through this process, we characterized the territorial, scientific and institutional dynamics associated with mountain socio-ecological systems, including analyses of capacities, collaboration networks, territorial needs and priority challenges for research, innovation and sustainable management.
As a result, the LNADS has an updated baseline that brings together the analysis of 937 scientific publications, a mapping of regulations and management instruments, territorial participation processes and a Geographic Information System with more than 50 official layers to support research, planning and governance in mountain territories. 50 capas oficiales para apoyar la investigación, la planificación y la gobernanza de los territorios de montaña.
Stage 2: Capacity building and ecosystem coordination | 2024-2025
To strengthen the capacities of stakeholders linked to the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory through training programs, experience exchanges and coordination spaces for researchers, territorial managers, public services, communities and civil society organizations. This stage promoted the use of scientific knowledge, interdisciplinary collaboration and network building to address the challenges of mountain territories.
Through training activities, thematic meetings and mechanisms linking science and territory, we fostered a community of practice able to mobilize knowledge, encourage territorial innovation and promote co-production among the ecosystem's different stakeholders.
As a result, progress was made in implementing nine priority initiatives defined in the LNADS Roadmap, including Conversa con los Andes, the development of the Southern Andes Atlas, the design and delivery of the Diploma in Mountain Management and Knowledge, and several coordination processes that strengthened multilevel governance and collaboration among academia, the public sector, social organizations and communities, particularly in territories with international UNESCO designations.
Stage 3: Consolidation and territorial impact | 2026-2028
To consolidate the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory as a permanent platform connecting science, communities, the public sector and territorial stakeholders, strengthening its capacity to mobilize knowledge for decision-making, the sustainable management of mountain territories and the design of evidence-based public policy. This stage will seek to project and consolidate the lessons learned, promoting their effective application in governance, planning and territorial innovation processes.
To this end, a Territorial Council for Science, Innovation and Knowledge of the Southern Andes , will be set up to connect scientific capacities with the territory's challenges and opportunities, facilitating dialogue among stakeholders, the identification of strategic needs and the co-creation of solutions for mountain socio-ecological systems. In addition, five citizen science projects will be funded and supported to strengthen territorial participation and the collaborative generation of knowledge.
As a result, a pilot implementation of the LNADS model will be carried out in Villarrica National Park, strengthening governance, knowledge management and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms to consolidate a replicable model that integrates research, conservation, territorial development and community participation in the mountain territories of southern Chile.
About us
The Southern Andes of Chile Natural Laboratory is a network for research, information and territorial coordination, where different forms of knowledge come together to understand the natural and human processes of this mountain region, unique in the world.
We seek to research, produce, encourage, gather, integrate and share scientific and technical information in an adaptive, coordinated and transdisciplinary way to improve the present and future lives of the communities of the Southern Andes of Chile.
Updating, adapting and expanding the 2022-2032 Roadmap of the Southern Andes Natural Laboratory (LNADS) is a strategic process aimed at consolidating a long-term vision for research, territorial coordination and public policy impact in the mountain territories of southern Chile.
This process has been carried out with ongoing advice from the NGO POLOC, which provided methodological and strategic support throughout 2024-2025, helping to structure participatory spaces for reflection, data gathering and validation of the project's main guidelines.
