Fog Collection and Participatory Approach for Water Management and Local Development: Practical Reflections from Case Studies in the Atacama Drylands

The Atacama drylands are characterized by a high level of aridity and water scarcity, abandonment of rural areas by the population and loss of biodiversity, where some areas never get any rainfall. The advection fog is a daily phenomenon and a local resource that can be used by means of a simple low-technology called “Atrapaniebla” (Fog Collector), providing water for human consumption and irrigation. Some case studies offer different scenarios in terms of this technology’s purpose: to fulfil the water needs of small isolated communities; allows activities like proximity agriculture and reforestation for the rural population; to support biodiversity’s preservation and scientific research. The effectiveness of these projects depends on important factors that are not to be taken for granted, like the communities involvement, the presence in the territory of an active institution and the role of the planned management. This paper analyses different case studies in the Atacama drylands, showing the need of stakeholder involvement and participatory approach. A participatory framework is proposed for project implementation and funding for successful and reliable fog collection and water management.