THE NEXT ECONOMY
ecosystem will slowly degrade. This means that we cannot extract biomass out of most of these forests. For example, the Aysén forest might be harvested but the austral boreal forest in Tierra del Fuego should not be further exploited or it will risk degradation (Hoffman, 1998). The tendency has been to extract, without considering the biological and scientific knowledge base regarding how much biomass can be taken out of these forests. In the Next Economy, this must change. The Aysén Region of Chile, in the Next Economy The Chilean Aysén region has a unique opportunity in the Next Economy. Realization is a matter of leadership within communities and groups. Chileans in Aysén, who are thinking about how to reformulate a better local economy, and who have the skills to guide us along the way without losing sight of the long term goal, have a great opportunity and a major responsibility. They, and we, must learn to manage landscapes like a jazz band would do; adjusting to new things as they arise that just may be outside of one’s control. International collapse could well be what is happening in Europe, and this could spread like a virus, infecting every economy in the world. It inevitably will affect the Chilean economy and therefore, Aysén regional economy. Each community and region would be the recipient. As E.F. Schumacher (1965), said in his famous treaty, Buddhist Economics: “A good Buddhist would never rely on his economy, which is localized on events far away, outside of his sight and his control. That would be risking everything.” That is what we are doing now. People of Aysén are totally at risk for what’s happening somewhere else. That is why new leaders in the Region of Aysén have to take the lead, utilizing the basic underpinnings and values of the Next Economy. Tourism and local development For many regions such as Aysén, tourism is a good way to strengthen local development. But tourism is also connected with global economics, long distance airline travel, motorized vehicles, massive energy consumption and a high level of global resources. Like so many issues we face, there are complications and contradictions with tourism. One view is that tourism is an extractive economy, shipping extracted resources around the planet. On the other hand, tourism can be all about connections with the environment, people and culture, and can be produced in ways that promote accountability with local communities (Bourlon & Mao, 2011). If recognized and embraced, tourism can be a far more sustainable practice. So, it depends on where tourists are coming from and their sensitivity to accountability. In southern Chile there would be little tourism if it was relying only on regional demand. From our research, tourists in Aysén are evenly split between nationals and international visitors. Of the 50 percent foreign visitors, 20 percent come from Argentina. This is specifically the case with Pumalin Park (Conservación Patagónica, 2001). So the debate related to tourism being a tool for local development has to do with the kind of infrastructure and economy on which it is based.
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