CHILE'S DATACENTRE BOOM DRAINS WETLANDS

The Quilicura wetland, one of Chile's largest swamps spanning 468 hectares north of Santiago, has visibly deteriorated over five years. Law student Rodrigo Vallejos documented the transformation from thriving ecosystem to yellowed grassland, drawing attention to the environmental cost of the country's technology ambitions. Datacentres require massive amounts of water for cooling systems. As Chile courts tech companies seeking Latin American bases, competition for water resources intensifies in a region already facing a mega-drought lasting nearly two decades. Local communities are mobilizing against the expansion. The partially protected wetland's degradation exemplifies the tension between economic development and environmental preservation. Activists argue the datacentre boom prioritizes corporate interests over ecosystem survival and water security for residents. Chile's tech sector growth contrasts sharply with its water crisis, raising questions about sustainability. The country must balance technological advancement with protection of finite water resources and natural habitats.