Local fundraising campaign saves 133,000 hectares of pristine chilean patagonia from development

A remarkable grassroots conservation effort has successfully protected one of Chile’s most pristine wilderness areas from logging, hydroelectric development, and commercial exploitation. The Cochamó Valley, spanning 133,000 hectares (328,000 acres) of untouched Patagonian landscape, was purchased for $78 million through a community-driven fundraising campaign that demonstrates the power of local environmental activism.

The conservation victory was spearheaded by NGO Puelo Patagonia, which mobilized supporters to raise the substantial funds needed to acquire this ecologically critical territory. On December 9th, ownership of the land was officially transferred to Fundación Conserva Puchegüín, a Chilean nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation. The protected area encompasses ancient temperate rainforests, crystal-clear turquoise rivers, and diverse ecosystems that serve as habitat for numerous native species.

The Cochamó Valley had faced mounting pressure from logging companies and potential hydroelectric projects that would have irreversibly altered its pristine character. This successful acquisition ensures that future generations will be able to experience this wilderness in its natural state, while also preserving crucial wildlife corridors and carbon-storing forests. The campaign represents a growing trend of community-led conservation efforts across Latin America, where local groups are taking direct action to protect their region’s most valuable natural assets.

This conservation milestone highlights how determined local communities can achieve significant environmental protection, even when facing well-funded development interests seeking to exploit natural resources.