A group of 25 children and parents of San José School from the city of Osorno, visited Katalapi Park in order to do outdoor environmental education activities, and gain knowledge of nature and biodiversity.
The group, which included 9-13 year old children, functions as a "Recycling Workshop" in their school. Children voluntarily collect reusable materials -specially paper- which they gather in special containers placed in classrooms, and then deliver to recycling centers.
"We have been organized as a recycling group for 3 years", says teacher Hilce Hinostroza, "and the field trip to Katalapi Park is part of a constant effort we make to get to know the nature that we are helping to protect. This is what gives meaning to our trash-collecting efforts."
During the two-day stay in the Park, kids learned to recognize native vegetation trough active outdoor games such as "Biodiversity Races" and the "Katalapi Treasure Hunt". They also had the possibility to hone their observation skills through activities such as "Camouflaged I Observe Birds that Visit Notro Trees".
The VII International Colloquium on Plant Ecophysiology will take place at Parque Katalapi from January 21.23, 2012. This event is aimed at cientists and graduate students interested in problems that plants must face in their environment. The Colloquium program is composed of conferences, round table discussions, and short scientific presentations. The invited lecturers are Tim Colmer (Australia), Hans Lambers (Australia), Rafael Oliveira (Brazil), and Manuel Pinto (Chile). Parque Katalapi is located in the Chilean Patagonia at 20 Km from Puerto Montt by Carretera Austral. This is a unique opportinity to visit an evergreen temperate rain forest, which covers most of the park. Those interested in participating in the Colloquium may download registration instruccions from this site (see below) and contact Dr Luis J. Corcuera at firstname.lastname@example.org or dial 56-41-2203586 (Office) o 92490228 (mobile).
The course will be offered from January 11-20, 2012 at Parque Katalapi, X Region Chile
This course will count wit the participation of outstanding scientists from Chile and abroad: Tim Colmer (Australia), Hans Lambers (Australia), Rafael Oliveira (Brasil), Alejandra Zúñiga (Universidad Austral de Chile), Enrique Peñaloza (Universidad de Concepción, Chile), Dante Pinochet (Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile) and Manuel Pinto (INIA, Chile). The program includes classes, seminars, and formulation of a research project. The course is oriented towards graduate level students and advanced undergraduates. Students should meet the following requierements: since lectures will be in English, at least intermediate English level will be necessary; in addition, all students must have at least a basic plant physiology course.
The following topics will be covered: What is a root? When and why did roots evolve?;The complexity of the rhizosphere; Origin and importance of soil, Soil types and properties: root adaptations; Geotropism, hydrotropism; Root respiration; Stable isotopes and root ecology; Root development; Interaction with other plants and herbivores; Root pressure and water transport; Nutrient absorption and transport; Root adaptations to low-P -soils; Roots and salinity; Mycorhizae; Nitrogen fixation; Waterlogging; Root aeration and radial oxygen transport; Root/shoot interactions; Roots and water stress; Roots and carbon balance; Root biotechnology.
In addition to these topics, Dr Hans Lambers, an experienced journal editor, will deliver a lecture on "How to prepare a manuscript for publication". Those interested in the course should write to Dr Luis J. Corcuera to email@example.com or contact him in the telephones 92490228 (cellular); 56-41-2203586.
Parque Katalapi and de "lonkos" (Chiefs) of Loncoche Francisco Antipán y Eliseo Curallanca have joined forces this year to offer a Multicultural Environmental Education Workshop. From October 8-10, 2011 participants will enjoy the park and have the opportunity to learn about mapuche culture in direct contact with the forest that formed it, come to understand how the relationship with the environment forms abilities and attitudes valued by different cultures, and in this way come to compare elements of european occidental and indigenous worldviews, with emphasis on mapuche elements.
The workshop is oriented to indigenous and non-indigenous people that wish to obtain a basic understanding of the effects of multiculturality in relationship to the Earth, a close encounter with the temperate rainforest, and to gain a first approach to the mapuche heritage that marks our culture. The event considers a mixture of both theoretical lectures and practical activities.
Prof. Gustavo Zuñiga was elected as President of the Network
The I Colloquium on “Antarctic Research. Present and future of the flora” was held on August 3-5, 2011 in Katalapi Park. This colloquium was sponsored by INACH, National Committee on Antarctic Research, and organized by Drs Leon Bravo and Luis Corcuera, professors from Universidad de La Frontera and Universidad de Concepción, respectively. 32 scientists from CEAZA, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de La Frontera, Universidad de Magallanes e INACH attended to this meeting. During the event, the state of knowledge of the Antarctic flora was discussed. In addition, invasion of the continent by exotic plants and the effect of climatic change on Antarctic plants was discussed. It was concluded that the study of the problems that affect to the plants of the white continent requires a multidisciplinary approach. For this reason, to facilitate interactions among Chilean research groups the Chilean Network on Antarctic Plants was formed. The network will be presided by Dr Gustavo Zúñiga. Dr Angélica Casanova and León Bravo were elected as directors. The network will be responsible for information exchange, increasing scientists interactions, and organize future colloquia.