Urbanisation is a dominant geographical trend and an important component of global change, with unprecedented implications for socio-economic, cultural and environmental characteristics. However, green areas, including original fragments, can help to conserve native diversity, improving the functioning of these artificial systems in the long term. Urban areas can still provide habitats usable by wild birds, however the structural characteristics of the habitat formed by different types of green area differ, and therefore dissimilar bird diversities are to be expected. The object of this study was to characterise the α and β diversities of birds in different green areas and to analyse how diversity relates to ten variables that characterise the habitat. We studied the green areas in the city of Temuco, southern Chile (Park, Square and Median strips of main streets), evaluating the variables: (a) surface area, (b) vegetation, (c) estimated human impact as the proportions of vegetation and bare soil by area, and the vehicle traffic. The bird assemblage structures were characterised by α (intra-environment) diversity and β diversity (between environments) and the statistical analysis identified the environmental variables related with the presence and abundance of birds. A statistical model was constructed to describe the contribution of the variables to bird diversity. We found significant differences between the diversity of bird species in the three types of green area. The β showed medium to high similarity between the different study units. There was a negative correlation with bare soil areas; the correlations with vehicle flow, plant structure and tree and shrub cover were not significant, meaning that these variables did not explain the variation in the richness of bird species between the green areas. However the surface area did explain this variation presenting a positive potential relation. There was also a high correlation with the origin (native) of shrub species. The bird diversity varied significantly according to the type of urban green area. The environmental variables presenting significant correlations with bird diversity were: surface area, native species of shrub stratum, shrub cover, and bare soil area. The best multiple regression model showed that the three most important variables for bird diversity are the surface area of the green area, the cover of the shrub stratum and the presence of native shrub species.

El paisaje es la expresión espacial y visual del medio. Es un recurso natural escaso, valioso y con demanda creciente, fácilmente depreciable y difícilmente renovable. El paisaje visual considera la estética y la capacidad de percepción por un observador. Para evaluar un paisaje existen diferentes métodos y procedimientos; aquí se propone un método mixto con valoración directa de subjetividad representativa y análisis posterior indirecto con análisis de componentes principales. El método propuesto intenta mejorar el problema de la subjetividad con grupos de evaluadores cuya opinión global sea representativa y es valorado con instrumentos que contienen listas de adjetivos con expresión numérica que facilita su procesamiento. En el análisis de componentes principales sí participan paneles de expertos. La técnica de valoración del paisaje es el análisis de preferencias, que parte aceptando que el valor de un paisaje está en función del número de individuos que le prefieren. También se describe un método para valorar la fragilidad del paisaje, que integrado a la valoración permite aplicar criterios de preservación y conservación. Una evaluación equivaldrá a una fotografía instantánea, que podrá ser comparada con una fotografía homóloga del futuro. Esto permitirá cuantificar las pérdidas (o ganancias) de paisajes valiosos, sus agentes destructivos y sus medidas mitigantes. El ciudadano promedio está, por diferentes motivos, internalizando cada vez más una suerte de "conciencia ambiental" que redunda en una novedosa valorización de los espacios naturales y sus ecosistemas. Esto explica la creciente resistencia ciudadana a perder espacios de alto valor turístico, paisajístico y recreacional. Por esto se debería controlar el impacto ambiental que ciertos proyectos ocasionen sobre el paisaje, especialmente cuando se trate de tomar decisiones frente a propuestas de instalaciones industriales o facilidades públicas (caminos, alcantarillados y otros). Para ejemplificar la metodología propuesta, se presenta información de un estudio realizado en la Ruta 5 Sur de Chile, en un transecto norte-sur de 587 kms.The landscape is the spatial and visual expression of our surroundings. It is a scarce natural resource, valuable and in growing demand, easily depreciated and difficult to renew. The visual landscape encompasses the aesthetics and the capacity of perception of the observer. In order to evaluate a landscape there are several methods and procedures. A mixed method is proposed with direct valuation of representative subjectivity and a subsequent indirect analysis with an analysis of main components. This modified method attempts to solve the problem of subjectivity with groups of evaluators whose global opinion is representative, and is valuated using a survey that contains a lists of adjectives with numeric values to facilitate its processing. A panel of experts will participate in the analysis of main components. The technique of valuation of the landscape is the analysis of preferences, that regards the value of a landscape as a function of the number of individuals who prefer it. A method is also described to evaluate the fragility of the landscape, which together with the valuation allow the application of criteria for preservation and conservation. An evaluation will be equivalent to a photograph taken at a specific instant in time, that could be compared with a similar photograph in the future. This will make it possible to quantify the loss (or improvement) of valuable landscapes, their destructive agents and their restoration management. The average citizen is nowadays, for several reasons, developing an "environmental conscience" with a newfound recognition of the value of natural spaces and their ecosystems. This explains the increasing resistance from the public to the loss of spaces of high tourism, scenic and recreational value. For this reason, it is imperative to control the environmental impact that certain projects can have on the landscape, especially in the decision making process regarding proposals for projects from the private industry or public utilities (roads, sewer systems, and others). As an example of the proposed methodology, results are shown from a study in the Ruta 5 Sur de Chile, in a north-south 587 km long segment

Inland wetlands are well represented ecosystems in Chile that are subjected to various pressures affecting conservation. Protection means legal and administrative initiatives which promote the protection and/or preservation of a wetland, either in its entirety, considering their areas of influence or its components.