Chile is preparing the creation of a National Park at the southernmost tip of the American continent, the “end of the world”.
This project seeks to protect unique ecosystems and endangered species in the Brunswick Peninsula.
The proposed National Park, called Cabo Froward, would cover approximately 150,000 hectares.
This area includes forests, peat bogs, glaciers and part of the coast facing the Strait of Magellan.
This territory represents the boundary where the land transforms into subantarctic forests, icy seas, and glaciers, which is why it is considered “the end of the world”.
A historic donation for conservation
To create the park, the foundation Rewilding Chile made a historic donation to the Chilean government in November of this year.
The organization, established by the late philanthropist Douglas Tompkins, donated about 127,000 hectares of land in the area.
Tompkins, founder of the outdoor clothing company North Face, dedicated years to conservation in Patagonia.
Following this, the donation included a specific condition: the government must create the National Park within two years.
Thus, this requirement seeks to ensure that the lands are definitively allocated to environmental protection.
Gabriela Garrido, project coordinator, indicated that the authorities expect to finalize the decree in the coming months.
The fragile ecosystems that the new national park planned by Chile seeks to protect
“The Brunswick Peninsula is a mosaic of marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems“, explains Benjamín Cáceres, wildlife coordinator of Rewilding Chile.
Therefore, it is essential to regulate human activity in the area, particularly industry and tourism. These must be controlled to prevent damage to the region’s fragile ecosystems.
“These are resilient places that maintain balance and create a refuge for species that are endangered“, noted Cáceres.
Regarding wildlife conservation, the park will host the southernmost continental population of the huemul, an endangered native deer.
Additionally, the productive waters of the area support a vast marine food chain: whales, sea lions, and orcas depend on these marine ecosystems for their survival.
The National Park Cabo Froward will join an 8-million-hectare biological corridor in Patagonia.
This corridor includes the National Parks Kawésqar and Alberto de Agostini, consolidating a network of protected areas.
Sustainable economic development hand in hand with the new national park in Chile
Carolina Morgado, director of Rewilding, highlighted that the park will be a source of sustainable economic development.
The director noted the importance of it being the first National Park within the municipality of Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas is the capital of the southernmost region of Chile.
The foundation is working on comprehensive plans for the park’s development. The projects include:
- Trails designed for hiking and trekking
- Appropriate tourist facilities for visitors
- Camping areas equipped for different seasons
- Infrastructure that respects the natural environment
These facilities aim to attract responsible tourism to the Patagonian region.
A strategic biological corridor
The incorporation of the Cabo Froward National Park into the Patagonian biological corridor represents a milestone for conservation.
The 8 million protected hectares connect diverse ecosystems throughout southern Chile.
This connectivity allows for the movement of species and maintains regional biodiversity.
The project represents an effort to balance conservation with local economic opportunities.
The creation of the Cabo Froward National Park will establish Chile as a leader in regional environmental protection.
The area’s subantarctic forests, icy seas, and glaciers host unique biodiversity.
Authorities and environmental organizations are working to ensure that the regulation of activities preserves these ecosystems.
The goal is to protect the territory for future generations while developing the local economy.
