• A Last Wild Place
• Major Threats
• Opportunity for Alternatives

...because it is one of the last wild places left on Earth.

At the southernmost end of the Americas lies wild Patagonia, a still unexplored land of legendary natural beauty. Vast expanses of open space stretch out in all directions. A curious geological past has shaped this varied and dynamic landscape. Bordering the fjords of the Pacific coast, the world's largest extrapolar icefields contain some of the region's most impressive peaks, while to the east, the windswept steppes stretch out to the Atlantic coast. Glacier-fed rivers, full of some of the world's purest water, tumble between jagged, never-climbed mountains. Herds of long-necked guanacos gallop across expansive grasslands as Andean condors, one of Earth's most massive birds, soar overhead.

Spanning the southern reaches of South America,
Patagonia contains some of Earth’s wildest and most dramatic landscapes. These vast grasslands are home to a range of native species, including the guanaco. Although a remarkable natural area, Patagonia has very little formal conservation:
only 3% of this huge (larger than France) region is securely protected. The rugged pioneer culture survives to this day,
with many settlers still riding to the nearest town on horseback. Huge deep lakes, verdant forests, high peaks: this biologically key region encompasses a range of ecosystems. We came to Patagonia almost fifty years ago and fell in love.
Now, with your help, we’re working to save this unique place. Overgrazing by livestock have degraded grasslands drastically throughout Patagonia. In Chilean Patagonia, massive areas of native forest have suffered from clearing and burning. Our vision is to create a national park that will save and restore a spectacular corner of Patagonia,
while educating visitors and neighbors about conservation. It’s an ambitious experiment, but we’ve already achieved big results.
Please join our work!

...because the region is threatened:

• Less than 5% of the area has any kind of conservation status (worldwide, about 13% of land is under some form of protection).
• Overgrazing has degraded grasslands, destroying key wildlife habitat and leaving fragile soils exposed to wind erosion and invasive species.
• The Huemul deer, a Chilean symbol for nature equivalent to the US's bald eagle, verges on extinction due to habitat loss and competition with livestock. Many other species are also threatened.
• Mining and gas development have already made inroads into this mineral-rich area, and threaten to degrade more wilderness areas.
• A proposed hydroelectric project threatens to dam Chilean Patagonia's two largest rivers.

...because through building new national parks, we can inspire
a viable alternative:

We're building Patagonia National Park as a step towards bringing
this vision for Patagonia to life.

The impacts of this park will extend beyond its 650,000 acres, contributing to a wilder, more beautiful, and truly sustainable future for this spectacular but threatened region. More about why we're dedicated to Patagonia:

• A Last Wild Place
• Major Threats
• Opportunity for an Alternative