100 bus drivers were trained to prevent road accidents and protect native fauna on the routes

A group of approximately 100 drivers from the Hualpén bus company arrived at the CONAF Environmental Education Center, located in the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve, on May 11 and 25 to participate in two conversational workshops called “Prevention of Accidents.” of Fauna in Protected Wild Areas”, dictated by park ranger Nicolle Órdenes as part of the “Slow for Fauna” campaign, which seeks to prevent road accidents and the death of native fauna on the routes.

The director of CONAF Tarapacá, Natalia Ortega, and the Seremi of Transportation, Pedro Medalla, were present on the occasion, who highlighted the initiative as a way to “raise company drivers’ awareness that they must take special care when crossing the routes.” of our conservation areas.”

The accident of wildlife on the roads is a global problem and Chile is no exception: on the routes near National Parks, accidents are among the most important factors of direct non-natural mortality of terrestrial vertebrate animals, even surpassing hunting. furtive during the last decades.

In terms of road safety, in our country 5 people die daily in traffic accidents and more than 60,000 are injured each year, leaving many of them with varying degrees of disability for life.

For this reason, the Seremi of Transportation and Telecommunications called on transportation companies to join this initiative “and reiterate the call to drive slowly, with caution, in order to protect our fauna and our natural heritage.”