In parts of colonial Chile, there was an unusual regulation—allegedly dating back to the 18th century—that forbade harming guano-producing seabirds. These birds, primarily cormorants and boobies, nest on rocky islands off the coast and were invaluable for their guano deposits, a prized natural fertilizer. The law reportedly aimed to protect the birds to ensure a sustained guano harvest, intertwining early environmental conservation with economic priorities. While this was not a formal law in the modern sense, local lore and historical records suggest community customs and regional edicts discouraged or punished the killing of these birds. This blend of wildlife protection and resource management serves as an interesting example of how environmental concerns and economic needs historically overlapped in Chile. Though the regulation is no longer enforced, it illustrates an early awareness of sustainable practices influenced by natural resource value rather than purely ecological ethics.
Source / verification note
Based on regional colonial-era records and local oral histories; no formal law text has been preserved.