This 175,000-square-mile region includes a network of protected areas that showcase Patagonia’s ecological and cultural importance. Its rich biodiversity and exceptional geographic and ecological features—including glacier-fed rivers that flow into a sea dotted with more than 40,000 islands—draw visitors from around the world. And residents of the local communities have a deep connection to these lands and waters.
Unfortunately, Chile has one of the lowest budget allocations in the world per hectare for managing protected areas. Such funding is necessary to help officials preserve these unique ecosystems and ensure the sustainable development of surrounding communities.
Since 2016, The Pew Charitable Trusts has worked with local governments, communities, universities, and other nonprofit organizations to strengthen protection of this extraordinary region.
For residents and visitors alike, Chilean Patagonia’s alluring landscapes inspire a profound passion for conserving the planet. Much more than just another name inscribed on a map, Patagonia is a legacy for humanity, a symbol of the resilience and hope that nature embodies, and a precious inheritance that those of us living today have a duty to protect for future generations.
With a coastline spanning 62,000 miles and one of the largest estuaries in the world, Chilean Patagonia is a crucial refuge for biodiversity in the face of climate change. Scientific studies consistently show that large, undisturbed natural spaces help promote species diversity, help wildlife and ecosystems better withstand the effects of a shifting climate, and provide numerous benefits—such as clean air and water—to nearby communities.
Chilean Patagonia is known around the world for its extraordinary and relatively pristine ecosystems. With old- growth forests, peat bogs, and fjords that are highly resilient against climate change, the area serves as a large carbon sink and has even been called a climate refuge.
Chilean Patagonia is an international icon: It’s one of the world’s most remote places and also one of the few remaining pristine areas on Earth.
