CARLOS ANWANDTER NATURE SANCTUARY

'Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary' (Spanish: Santuario de la naturaleza Carlos Anwandter) is protected wetland in Cruces River about 15 km north of Valdivia, Chile. The sanctuary is named after the german politician Carl Andwanter who settled in Valdivia during the 1850s. The wetlands in the sanctuary are inhabited by many birdspecied including Black-necked Swans.

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Pollution controversy

Pollution controversy

In 2004 a pulp mill was opened in San José de la Mariquina located 25km northeast near Cruces River. The emblematic Black-necked Swans started at that time to die and migrate. Ecologists and people from the university UACh in Valdivia accused the forestry enterprise CELCO to being polluting the river. The pulp mill was forced to close while the case was investigated [1]. Even in 2006 the Latin American water tribunal recommended to close down the mill [2][3][4].