Chile is on the cusp of establishing its 47th national park at the remote southern tip of South America, a move that would protect nearly 200,000 hectares of largely untouched wilderness and complete an ambitious wildlife corridor stretching some 2,800 kilometres across Patagonia. The proposed Cape Froward National Park, if formally designated by the government, will safeguard rugged coastlines, ancient forests, carbon-rich bogs and a mosaic of ecosystems that support rare and endangered species and preserve Indigenous heritage in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.
The vast expanse on the Brunswick Peninsula, facing the windswept waters of the Strait of Magellan, represents one of the southernmost natural areas on the continental mainland. Conservation groups that have championed the park say its ecological significance cannot be overstated: it hosts populations of the endangered huemul deer and the river otter known as huillín, as well as regular sightings of pumas and a spectrum of birdlife. The peatlands here, dominated by sphagnum moss, act as powerful carbon sinks, underlining the global climate importance of protecting such territories.
The initiative has been driven by Rewilding Chile, a conservation foundation that grew out of the legacy of American environmental philanthropists Kris and the late Doug Tompkins. Over the better part of a decade, the organisation has stitched together a patchwork of land acquisitions and agreements with the Chilean state to make the park possible. In late 2023, Rewilding Chile signed a landmark protocol with the Chilean government to donate the land for the Cape Froward park—an act contingent on the government’s formal protection being confirmed within a two-year period under Chilean law.
The conservation push comes against the backdrop of broader environmental goals in Chile to expand protected areas and respond to global biodiversity commitments. Officials have signalled their intention to push forward with legal processes and consultations, including mandatory Indigenous consultations, which are required for large-scale land-use decisions. While an initial round of consultations in September did not reach a resolution, the environment ministry says it will work to make progress by March. Should the consultations and legal steps stall past the deadline, the donated land could revert to the stewardship of Rewilding Chile.
Aside from its ecological riches, Cape Froward bears deep human and cultural history. Archaeological evidence across the coastline and forest edges reflects tens of thousands of years of Indigenous presence, particularly of the Kawésqarpeople, who navigated these waterways in canoes carved from trees. Remnants of early European exploration and the maritime history of the strait add further layers to the site’s significance, which conservationists argue should be preserved for educational and cultural reasons alongside environmental ones.
Planners envision the park not just as a refuge for wildlife and a bulwark against ecological degradation but also as a destination for sustainable tourism, with potential for hiking routes, visitor facilities and educational experiences that connect people with Patagonia’s raw landscapes. Rewilding Chile and government authorities are coordinating to ensure that when the park is officially declared, it will both protect biodiversity and foster economic opportunities for nearby communities.
As Chile prepares to formalise the Cape Froward National Park, environmental advocates are celebrating what they see as a rare victory for large-scale conservation in a world where pristine wilderness is increasingly under threat. The project’s success will hinge on negotiations and legal processes over the coming months, but its potential to secure one of Patagonia’s last great wild places underscores a significant moment in the long arc of global environmental stewardship.
