Conservation in Patagonia

Like any other wilderness destination in the world, Patagonia has its own wildlife and conservation issues. Some of the most important problems Patagonia is facing are:

Patagonia's coastline is for the most part unprotected and although still relatively pristine, the increase in oil drilling, transportation, high sea fishing, new industries and port facilities are threatening its wildlife.

Due to the collapse in wool prices, sheep-farming land in Patagonia has become very cheap. However, the hundreds of thousands sheep have overgrazed the grasslands and are a threat to the indigenous wildlife such as guanacos, huemul deer, pumas, black-necked swans, and the Andean condor.

Extensive logging and forest clearing is threatening slow-growing trees such as lenga and ñire.

Fortunately, several non-profit organizations are being formed and are stepping up to help protect Patagonia's land and its wildlife.
 

Conservacion Patagonica

Conservacion Patagonica was founded in 2000 as a charitable foundation by Kristine McDivitt Tompkins to raise funds in order to acquire, restore and preserve the fragile forests, grasslands and coast of South America’s Patagonia, one of the last wild places on earth.

Since her retirement in 1993 from her long-time CEO position with the outdoor clothing company Patagonia, Inc., Kris has lived in Chile with her husband Doug Tompkins, founder of The Conservation Land Trust (CLT). Through their efforts, the CLT has acquired, saved and permanently protected more than 1.4 million acres of Chile’s Valdivian rainforest and Argentina’s Esteros del Iberá wetlands in Corrientes province.

Conservacion Patagonica’s efforts to protect the bioregions of Argentine Patagonia are particularly important as leading scientists and conservationists have identified the region as a critical harbor of biodiversity that is highly endangered.
 

Fundación Patagonia Natural

Fundación Patagonia Natural (FPN) is a non-governmental and non-profit organization created in July 1989 for the conservation of wildlife and the environment of Patagonia. Founded by scientists, wardens and teachers sharing a concern for Patagonia's natural environment, FPN seeks to carry out its mission based on sound research and community participation within the guiding principles of sustainable resource use.

FPN's programs include education and courses in courses on wildlife interpretation; a variety of community programs supported from the Institutional Development Fund of the World Bank; pollution reduction programs; and involvement in strengthening the protected areas system in Patagonia.