Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and Patagonia National Parks officially become patrimony of the Chilean State
Together they cover a total of 709,919 hectares and represent a major step forward in the conservation of ecosystems at the global level. They are also vital parts of the Patagonia Parks Route. (Photo credit: ©Antonio Vizcaíno).
This morning marked the official handover of the Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and Patagonia Parks to the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) by the Tompkins Conservation Foundation. The event took place in Pumalín Park in the Los Lagos Region of Chile and was attended by Tourism Undersecretary Mónica Zalaquette, Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker, Regional Governor Harry Jürgensen and Conaf Executive Director José Manuel Rebolledo.
The visit was led by the foundation’s President, Kristine Tompkins, and its Director, Carolina Morgado, who received the officials in the El Amarillo sector of the park and unveiled the Conaf signage. They also presented the park rangers’ uniforms.
The Tourism Undersecretary remarked, “as a government, we are committed to the development of sustainable tourism and the parks that are being given to the Chilean State today play a key role in this. They are now among the first-rate options available to visitors to southern Chile each year, and they will contribute to the region’s economic and social development, positively impacting the quality of life of the people who live here.”
Agricultural Minister Antonio Walker noted that the official reception of this donation presents “the great challenge for us to continue to protect and conserve state-owned forest areas. They are not only a natural and environmental legacy for our country, but heritage that belongs to the whole of humanity. We are endeavoring to protect the biological diversity of this part of the world. This is a very important day for Conaf and for the Agriculture Ministry. We are responsible for maintaining the standards of these parks in order to continue the work that the Tompkins Foundation has been doing.”
Pumalín Park is located in the province of Llanquihue and Palena and is the gateway to the Patagonia Parks Route. Its 402,392 hectares stretch from the heart of the Andes mountains to the fjords of the Pacific coast. They include paths, camp sites and public facilities that allow hundreds of visitors to enjoy the marvelous landscapes each year.
Meanwhile, Patagonia National Park has a surface area of 304,527 hectares and is part of the land donated by the foundation, along with the Jeinimeni and Lake Cochrane National Reserves. These developments represent significant progress for the conservation of ecosystems, such as grasslands, mountains, coigüe forests and wetlands.
Conaf has a budget of $350 million pesos for the management of the two parks and 25 park rangers who will maintain their quality and ensure that visitors care for them. In an effort to ensure that these goals are fully met, the foundations and the Chilean State have agreed to hold round table discussions over a ten-year period, during which time they will work together.