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Chilean agricultural policy aims, among others, to foster the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Agenda 2008-2010 envisages several areas of action, including the protection of the environment and indigenous forests.

With the regard to hydroelectric power stations, generation projects must obtain an environmental permit and others authorizations.

Law No. 20.257 of April 2008 on non-conventional renewable energy sources stipulates that as from 2010 electricity companies that sell power from the grid will have to prove to the CDEC that 5 per cent of their annual sales comes from non-conventional renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, wind, solar and biomass, among others; this percentage will increase annually up to 10 per cent in 2024 and tax incentives are envisaged by way of compensation.

Under the General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Supreme Decree No. 430 of 1991), access to fishing is regulated in order to maintain a sustainable level of exploitation of fisheries resources.

Supreme Decree No. 125 of 2003 enacted the National Aquaculture Policy, which is intended to promote the economic growth of aquaculture within a framework of environmental sustainability and fair access to the activity.

The National Forest Corporation (ONAF), which is responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of wood land and forest resources, offers rebates of between 75 and 90 per cent of the net costs of afforestation and sustainable forest management activities, especially those carried out by small wood land owners.

The Ministry of Mining relies on the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO) for proposing policies for the sustainable development of the mining sector.

According to the Bicentenary Mining Policy, one of the main components of State policy in the sector is to promote the sustainable development of the mining industry.

The Framework Agreement for the Integral Sustainability of Small-Scale Mining, signed in August 2005 by the Ministries of Mining and the Economy, together with other public and private entities, aims inter alia at improving the environmental conditions of the productive processes.