Paulina Saball, a social worker with a background in urban development, was named by Chile's President Ricardo Lagos to head the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) after the contentious resignation of her predecessor, Gianni López. Saball, who since 1999 has served as deputy minister of national assets, will take over the CONAMA post on Feb. 25. She will be the third woman to hold that office.

López's resignation, triggered by a controversial legislative bill on “environmental clean-up bonds”, brought to light — say environmentalists — the weakness of the Chilean government is this area. CONAMA is an agency of what is known as the General Secretariat of the Presidency, which is seen as subject to political pressures.

On Feb. 2, as Lagos announced his acceptance of López's resignation and the designation of Saball, the non-governmental Terram Foundation presented a proposed institutional reform to give CONAMA autonomy and certify it as a technical entity.