Vreni Häussermann, Ph.D.

Research

Vreni Häussermann is a principal investigator at San Sebastian University. Previously, Häussermann was the scientific director of the Huinay Scientific Field Station, located in the Comau Fjord in Chilean Patagonia. Her Pew fellowship project focused on generating, compiling, and communicating data to inform establishment of a network of marine protected areas designed to safeguard unique marine ecosystems in southern Chile. With a coastline spanning more than 80,000 kilometers, Chilean Patagonia is home to the world’s most extensive fjord region. The harsh regional climate and remote location preserved the coastal waters from major human impacts until recently. Fast economic development—including salmon farming, industrial and small-scale fisheries, and infrastructure projects—is now having considerable impacts on the Chilean fjord region’s marine environment. Data scarcity on the area’s highly diverse nearshore marine ecosystems also contributed to a lack of science-based recommendations for mitigating harm from these activities. Häussermann’s research applied an innovative approach, using the conservation planning software Marxan to detect the most problematic gaps in knowledge and data. New information gathered through the project helped fill knowledge gaps and informed decisions about spatial protections for the region’s unique ecosystems. Häussermann also helped increase awareness about and appreciation of fjord biodiversity while emphasizing the importance of conservation and sustainable management as key components of spatial planning in Chile’s “Wild South.” To learn more about Häussermann, read her bio.