Chile (Ercilla-La Araucanía): Potato harvest that combines security, collaboration and local development.

In the heart of Ercilla’s rural landscape, where productive forests coexist with communities deeply connected to the land, an innovative initiative has emerged that is revolutionizing fire prevention while contributing to local development: green firebreaks. This approach is already yielding concrete results in the Sara Malleco sector, evidenced by a bountiful potato harvest that combines safety, collective work, and community progress.

From early morning, locals gathered to participate in a traditional rural activity: the harvest. However, this occasion was special. It wasn’t just about gathering food, but also about showcasing a novel model that transforms underutilized land, such as traditional firebreaks, into dynamic, productive spaces that serve the community.

Claudio Cid Bascur, head of the Territorial Relations Area for CMPC’s Victoria division, explained that this project is taking place in an area bordering forest plantations and local communities. In this context, more than half a hectare was designated for potato cultivation. According to the specialist, the main purpose is twofold: to generate a productive activity for the community and to maintain a green firebreak in a previously unused space.

This proposal is part of a network that includes 46 orchards distributed across various company properties, all under the same concept: converting areas without productive use into key tools both to mitigate the risk of forest fires and to strengthen relationships with neighboring communities.

A firewall that promotes safety and strengthens the community 

For the residents of the Sara Malleco sector, this project means much more than fire prevention; it is also a tool for local development. José Jara, president of the neighborhood association, highlighted how this harvest has motivated the residents: “It is a great incentive for all the neighbors. We are already seeing results with a very encouraging harvest. In the future, we want to continue growing and expanding these types of initiatives.”

The process has also represented a valuable experience in collective work. Through mingas—traditional community workdays—neighbors, local leaders, and CMPC teams have worked together from planting to harvesting. Cristian Parra, manager of the Community Prevention Network, highlighted the project’s positive impact: “It is a clear example of social innovation with a truly collaborative approach. It not only offers productive benefits but also acts as a barrier to prevent the spread of fire in case of wildfires.”

This collaborative model between local communities and the company has made it possible to recover underutilized land, promoting local agriculture with an approach that has the potential to be replicated in other regions as a triple impact solution: social, environmental and economic.

In this way, what was once just a passive protection strip has been transformed into a vibrant space that produces food, unites communities, and protects the environment.