Santiago, Chile, January 5, 2026 -- With an initiative spearheaded by the Senate of the Republic, the Chamber of Deputies, and the ICCF Group, the Chilean Conservation and Oceans Caucus was established to strengthen parliamentary leadership on conservation, oceans, and sustainable development.
Since 2012, the ICCF Group has supported the formation of parliamentary conservation caucuses in Latin America and globally, establishing the caucus model as a highly effective, nonpartisan and multi-sectoral platform that promotes cooperation, legislative innovation, and evidence-based decision-making. The establishment of the Caucus in Chile represents a strategic step toward strengthening parliamentary dialogue in one of the world's most ecologically diverse countries, which also bears significant responsibility for the Eastern Pacific.
In picture, from left to right: Sen. Ricardo Lagos, Environment Minister Maisa Rojas, Chile, and Jaime Cavelier, Phd., the ICCF Group
Chile, with a coastline of 6,500 kilometers and ecosystems ranging from the Atacama Desert to the Patagonian fjords, faces key challenges in biodiversity protection, ocean governance, sustainable fishing, and climate resilience.
In this context, the Conservation and Oceans Caucus is consolidating itself as a space for political coordination to build consensus, promote robust regulatory frameworks, and strengthen the environmental agenda of the National Congress.
The event was attended by members of parliament from Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, as well as representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society, academia, and international organizations, along with the president of the International Commission on Conservation and Forestry and directors from Latin America. The agenda included discussions on the main challenges and opportunities in the Eastern Pacific, with a special focus on regional cooperation, particularly with the Caucuses already established in Latin America, and the role of the legislature in protecting shared marine resources.
The ICCF Group celebrates this new milestone in the region and reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting parliaments in strengthening legislative agendas that integrate conservation, sustainable development, and well-being for present and future generations.
In picture below, left to right: Sen. Sergio Gahona (Chile), Sen. Germán Blanco (Colombia), Sen. Paulina Vodanovic and Sen. Francisco Chahuan (Chile)
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