Maullín Birdwatching Tourism Fair – FAM 2025: A collaborative project to position the Maullín River as a top touristic birdwatching destination

By Daniela Ruz Alvear, Coastal Solutions Fellow 2023

The second edition of the Maullín Birdwatching Tourism Fair (FAM-2025), which took place last December2025, has established itself as a milestone for nature tourism and wetland conservation in southern Chile. The initiative, organized in conjunction with local sustainable tourism operators, was inspired by the XII South American Bird Fair in Mindo, Ecuador, that took place in 2023, and it aims to position Maullín as a bird tourism destination, with a focus on the conservation of birds and their habitats through sustainable tourism and environmental education, while strengthening local economic activity around birds and their conservation.

The FAM is a unique opportunity to highlight the natural wealth of the ecosystems in the Maullín commune, showcasing its wetlands along the entire river system: from its source to its mouth on the Pacific Ocean. This ecological corridor is home to an immense diversity of waterbirds and shorebirds, as well as playing a key role as a climate refuge, and an important living area for local communities.

The fair is an event organized in collaboration with local tourism operators, led by the Marine Conservation Foundation (FCM) and the Coastal Solutions Fellows Program. This second edition was supported and co-financed by the Regional Government and National Tourism Service (Sernatur) of Los Lagos, through the “Tourism Promotion for the Los Lagos Region” program, and the Municipality of Maullín, strengthening its regional scope and projection.

The main objective of this second edition of FAM was to promote sustainable tourism, bird watching, and the conservation of coastal and river ecosystems. It aims to demonstrate that it is possible to generate economic and social benefits from tourism when it is carried out in a responsible and planned manner that respects the natural and cultural environment.

More than just an event to appreciate birds, the Maullín Birdwatching Fair is a meeting place where local entrepreneurs, nature guides, ornithologists, workshop leaders, conservation organizations, public institutions, and the community come together to promote knowledge exchange, experiences, and best practices related to nature tourism.

The support of the Coastal Solutions Program is key to strengthening this initiative, as it allows for the integration of conservation, local development, and community participation in a territory of high ecological value. In this way, the FAM is positioned as a platform that promotes nature-based solutions and collaborative work, contributing to the protection of the Maullín River wetlands and the well-being of those who live in and care for this territory.