What does it take to make a new national park?

When we set out to create a national park, our goal is a flagship park that protects a large, biologically critical area, invites visitors to experience the natural world, and contributes to a vibrant local economy. To best conserve biodiversity, protected areas must encompass a substantial area of intact ecosystems, which can support healthy populations of all native species.

Parks thrive in reality (not just exist on paper) when people visit, explore, support, and advocate for them. One of the few parks being created on this scale in the world, the future Patagonia National Park will anchor ecotourism in the Aysen Region, thereby promoting a mode of development that embraces and protects the area's incredible natural character. The future Patagonia National Park will form a new chapter in the global history of national parks as key attractions of nations and focal points for environmental awareness.

A park like this does not come into existence overnight. Through collaborating with local, regional, and national governmental authorities, we plan to donate a fully functional new park to the Chilean park system within the next eight years. The work of park creation can be divided into four major areas: buying land, restoring biodiversity, building public access, and community engagement.

To create Patagonia National Park, Conservacion Patagonica has bought
almost 200,000 acres in the ecologically precious Chacabuco Valley.

For decades, much of this valley was a large (overgrazed) ranch. Volunteers from Chile
and abroad have played a key role in our grassland restoration program, one of the world’s largest.

To give wildlife freedom to roam, we’ve dismantled much of the ranch’s 400 miles of fencing.

Our park guards and wildlife trackers, formerly gauchos on the ranch,
monitor populations of the endangered huemul deer and other keystone species.

So that generations to come can enjoy this spectacular landscape, we’re constructing trail networks.

World class facilities will allow the future park to become a flagship
attraction in the region, boosting the local economy.

Community festivals and hikes spark enthusiasm and awareness of conservation.

We’re well over halfway done with establishing this spectacular new park.
Please help us reach the finish!