Appendix 2. Illustration of Omora s Ten Criteria to achieve biocultural conservation and sustainability. A space for integrating biocultural conservation and social well-being at the southern extreme of the Americas. Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
At the Omora Park we have defined ten criteria that guide the actions to implement biocultural conservation and sustainable development in Cape Horn. (1) Inter-institutional cooperation (2) Participatory approach (3) Interdisciplinary biocultural approach (4) Networking and international cooperation (5) Communication through the media (6) Identification of a flagship species (7) Curricular integration and intercultural education in the outdoors (8) Economic sustainability and ecotourism (9) Administrative sustainability (10) Research and conceptual sustainability
(1) Inter-institutional cooperation Multiple representatives from the Chilean government, the indigenous Yahgan Community, the Chilean navy, schools, public services, and other members of international, national, regional and local institutions participated in the inauguration of the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in 2000. Photo Marcelo Pérez (Photographic Archive La Prensa Austral ).
Inter-institutional land tenure: The Omora Ethnobotanical Park constitutes a public-private reserve granted by the Ministry of National Land to the University of Magallanes and the Omora NGO, which protects the watershed that provides drinking water to Puerto Williams (capital city of the Chilean Antarctic Province). Photo Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
(2) Participatory approach The Yahgan Community built the entrance to the Omora Park, which serves as a space for intergenerational education for the indigenous Yahgan grandmothers, their daughters and granddaughters. Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos inaugurating the entrance to the Omora Park with members of the Yahgan indigenous community, local volunteers, students, provincial government staff, and researchers. Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
(3) Interdisciplinary biocultural approach The Yahgan grandmothers and other members of the indigenous community record and prepare educational materials on traditional ecological knowledge together with ethno-ecologists, ornithologists, musicians, writers and recording engineers. Photos Oliver Vogel, John Schwenk & Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
(4) Networking and international collaboration Omora Park participates in several international networks, such as the Latin American Network of Schoolyard Ecology, coordinated by the National Audubon Society.
(5) Communication through the media Communication through the media has enabled the Omora initiative to overcome the isolation of the remote austral archipelago and to increase awareness and appreciation of the identity of the Cape Horn region. Concepts such as Yahgan traditional ecological knowledge and biocultural conservation are now frequently used in regional newspapers and television programs.
(6) Definition of a flagship species: the hummingbird omora In Omora Park s logo the hummingbird is depicted with the map of the southern tip of the Americas and the Antarctic Peninsula in the background to emphasize the topic, place-based character of the Omora project, which aims to go beyond a purely conceptual or utopian transdisciplinary approach. The circular shape of the logo evokes the planet to symbolize the aim of integrating regional and global scales. In the logo, the hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes) visits its preferred flower (Philesia magellanica), and carries a harpoon (a Yahgan hunting tool). In summary, the hummingbird (omora in the Yahgan language) illustrates both biological and cultural values. Omora provides the name for the park because its Yahgan story (Appendix 3) embodies in a comprehensive and appealing way the central goals of biocultural conservation to achieve a current state of well-being for humans and the communities of other species. Through its biocultural beauty omora captivates and unites a very diverse group of participants to support the cause of conservation, which is why the hummingbird omora was identified as the flagship species for the park.
(7) Outdoor education Master students and professors participate in formal and informal education programs, preparation of educational materials, and inform environmental decision-making. Photos Oliver Vogel & Steff van Dongen (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
(8) Economic sustainability and ecotourism Yahgan indigenous handcraft; Yacht navigations through the Cape Horn Archipelago; local guides, students and visitors at the Omora Park. Photos Oliver Vogel & Ricardo Rozzi (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
(9) Administrative sustainability At the regional level a consensus has been achieved for the creation of the UNESCO Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. Photos Leonardo Ramirez (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ).
The administrative sustainability of the Omora initiative itself includes the construction of a new Center for Biocultural Conservation and Environmental Philosophy (currently under construction). In contrast with many traditional research stations in remote locations, the Omora Center is situated in the town of Puerto Williams to promote interactions with authorities, the school and other actors of the local community in general.
(10) Conceptual sustainability: Research Photo Oliver Vogel (Photographic Archive Omora Ethnobotanical Park ). Omora s research on Yahgan traditional ecological knowledge has been essential to better understand and value the archipelago s indigenous culture. Collaborations include recording sessions such as pictured here with grandmother Cristina, her granddaughter, and ethno-ecologists.