The "Laguna El Barco Campsite" is a tourist proposal promoted by the Pehuenche indigenous community from El Barco, in the Alto Biobío regional division. The El Barco lake is a body of water located on the land that belongs to the community. Only in summer of 2019 the place was visited by more than 7,000 mainly national tourists, who enjoyed the Pehuenche culture, the beauty of the landscape and the services and activities offered by the communities that manage the campsite.
Enel's collaboration with the community consisted of improving the campsite facilities to guarantee their quality and capacity. The Company helped to construct full sanitary services, collection and supply of drinking water system, obtaining permits and certifications issued by the Biobío Health Service and, finally, the construction permit from the Municipality of Alto Biobío.
The Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA by its Spanish acronym) that allows the Ralco plant to operate, imposed on the Company the obligation to provide several services that the resettled families should receive especially in productive areas. To comply with the above, the Company has promoted the settlers´ autonomy in food production and productive and economic matters, wherever possible, inviting members of the community to make use of their knowledge and natural and scenic resources. This project complies with all the above parameters.
The project is an initiative that is very important for the sustainability of the community, because with the generated economic resources, in addition to providing temporary employment to 16 people, it permits the community to cover the costs of the use of agricultural machinery which benefits the community´s members dedicated to livestock breeding and cereal and vegetable production.
This project was implemented in 2019 and s is currently awaiting the corresponding permits.
The "Laguna El Barco Campsite" project is in line with the UN- driven SDG 8, “Decent work and economic growth”.
