Send message to Author

Paper short abstract:

The study of "coal zone" in Province of Concepción, has was make from economic, social and political perspectives, but no since environmental history, nevertheless the evidents socio-environmental effects (1850-1900). What's was the consecuences in the lives of the inhabitants and local environment?

Paper long abstract:

The economy of coal extraction in the XIX century, too arrived at South America, especially at Chile coast, where cities how Coronel, Lota and Lebu created a enclave to respond at the world demand of fossil resource. But this not only generated the enrichment of families such as the Cousiño, the Rojas or the Schwagers, but also led to a series of socio-environmental consequences. What were those effects? What level of impact did in local society have as a result of this mining activity, for example, on their health? What effects did it have on the natural environment, such as rivers, beaches or forests? These questions, which we intend to answer in this preview, show us a proto-zone of sacrifice, which maintained and increase its imprint in the 1960-2010 years thanks to the installation of thermoelectric, fishing and oil storage projects, although, fortunately, this has changed thanks to social pressure and greater environmental awareness. However, this study can constitute a good background for an unwritten history, which has a varied literature ranging from the novel to academic historiography, although with an absence of studies from environmental history.