After a period of local and international fundraising, Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn announces next steps in creating 328,000-plus-acre protected area in Chile <\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> CREDITS: VALENTINA THENOUX<\/p>\n<\/div> December 19, 2025 \u2014The largest land holding in Cocham\u00f3 is no longer for sale. Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn, a locally driven conservation initiative comprised of multiple organizations, raised more than $78 million to purchase and support the long-term protection and effective management of Fundo Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn, a 328,351-acre property of undeveloped nature in the heart of the Cocham\u00f3 district in Chile\u2019s northern Patagonia.<\/p>\n The purchase ends years of uncertainty over the future of Fundo Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn after the previous owner put the property up for sale in 2022. Now begins a new phase of enduring protection and long-term management of the area.<\/p>\n With the registration process of new ownership complete, Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn will work toward implementing a governance and management model with an approach that prioritizes community participation and conservation science.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a historic milestone not only because of the size of the protected area, but also because of how it was achieved: with participation, transparency, and deep respect for the communities that live in Cocham\u00f3,\u201d said Andr\u00e9s Diez, executive director of Puelo Patagonia. \u201cThat is the foundation on which the next phase will be built.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div> CREDITS: BENJAMIN VALENZUELA<\/p>\n<\/div> Since its founding, the Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn coalition\u2013led by Puelo Patagonia<\/a> in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy<\/a> (TNC), Freyja Foundation<\/a>, Patagonia, Inc.<\/a> and Wyss Foundation<\/a>\u2013has taken responsibility for fundraising and ongoing technical and field work. In addition to navigating the acquisition process, the team carried out wildlife and forest monitoring, introduced tourism-management initiatives and led continuous engagement with local communities that will play a key role in the area\u2019s future management model.<\/p>\n The purchased land supports extensive terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and is home to several endangered and endemic species\u2014from the monito del monte and the rare Darwin\u2019s frog to the huemul deer, which appears on Chile\u2019s national coat of arms. It is also the missing link in a 4-million-acre network of protected areas across Chile and Argentina, and it makes up a significant portion of the Puelo River watershed. Its diverse, connected habitats\u2014rivers, forests, lakes, wetlands and glaciers\u2014support plant and animal life, store carbon, offer climate refuges as temperatures rise, and contribute to the well-being of nearby communities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> \u201cThis radical collaboration of passionate individuals and organizations large and small has come together to do something extraordinary\u2013a real gift to our Earth and our grandchildren,\u201d said Jeffrey Parrish, TNC<\/a>\u2019s Global Managing Director for Nature Protection. \u201cSpectacular granite domes stand stronger, rivers run wilder, sentinel Alerce trees tower taller, and endangered species like the Huemul deer now have the freedom to roam. The Nature Conservancy is humbled to be a part of this extraordinary partnership for Chile and the people of Cocham\u00f3.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the current plan, up to 20% of the area will be designated for sustainable uses (agricultural activities, low-impact tourism, etc.) and at least 80% will be under strict\u00a0 protection. New Chilean legislation for protected areas make it possible to establish multiple-use conservation areas in zones currently used by local communities and the area\u2019s many visitors, for example, while the most ecologically sensitive and inaccessible areas are envisioned as a national park, ensuring protection and continuity for traditional activities in the valley.<\/p>\n This alliance led to the creation in August this year of the Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn Foundation, a Chilean non-profit organization that is now the owner of the land and responsible for ensuring its long-term protection. The foundation has an independent board of directors that will ensure compliance with its founding principles: safeguarding the nature and culture of the area\u00a0 and ensuring community participation in the project.<\/p>\n After achieving worldwide media coverage and raising funds in record time, Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn has established itself as one of the most significant conservation campaigns in recent years. It is a project born in Chile, driven locally and supported by thousands of people around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Freyja Foundation<\/a> President Anne Deane stated: \u201cWe first visited Cocham\u00f3 in 2017, and ever since then, knew we wanted to support its long-term protection. Puelo Patagonia has defended the valley for decades, and when the opportunity arose to safeguard this region permanently, we knew it was a pivotal moment. The purchase of Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn is a major conservation milestone, and we\u2019re honored to be a part of its long-term stewardship.\u201d<\/p>\n Patagonia<\/a> CEO Ryan Gellert said: “This moment couldn\u2019t have happened without the determination of local conservationists. The activists in Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn are protecting this majestic place with world-class rock climbing, fly fishing, trail running and other outdoor recreation. Fundo Pucheguin will become part of a 4-million-acre swath of conservation land across Chile and Argentina \u2014 a victory for nature, people and wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly McUsic, President of the Wyss Foundation<\/a> said: \u201cThe Cocham\u00f3 Valley is one of the most breathtaking places on Earth, and its protection is a victory for the Chilean people, wildlife, and the planet. The Wyss Foundation is honored to support the Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn coalition and the numerous partners who came together to permanently preserve an area with unmatched beauty and biodiversity. This collaborative effort will help ensure future generations can experience and be inspired by this remarkable stretch of land.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div> CREDITS: JOS\u00c9 MIGUEL CALVO<\/p>\n<\/div> This major step toward Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn\u2019s long-term protection is the result of a collective effort across Chile and the world. The funds raised have come from thousands of donors from different countries. Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn would like to extend special thanks to the James M. Cox Foundation, the Wyss Foundation, Fundaci\u00f3n Viento Sur, the Horizon Foundation, the Holdfast Collective, the Bobolink Foundation, the Alerce Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Del R\u00edo Alamos Family, Bernardo Matte Izquierdo, Freyja Foundation, Juan Claro Gonzalez, Paola Luksic and family, Ar\u00edstides Benavente, the Justiniano Briones Family and Madeline Hurtado Berger.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> CR\u00c9DITOS: MATTHEW SCOTT<\/p>\n<\/div> The organizations that make up the alliance are Puelo Patagonia, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Freyja Foundation, Wyss Foundation and Patagonia, Inc. Puelo Patagonia brings deep knowledge and solid experience in Cocham\u00f3, combined with a global perspective, a successful track record of large-scale conservation projects, and fundraising expertise from international organizations.<\/p>\n About Puelo Patagonia<\/b><\/p>\n It is a non-profit, territorial organization that has been working for 12 years to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of the Cocham\u00f3 commune.<\/p>\n Among its most important projects are securing the declaration of 11,400 hectares of the Cocham\u00f3 Valley as a Nature Sanctuary; regulating mass tourism to safeguard the territory; conducting permanent monitoring of native wildlife; implementing a rural volunteer program that highlights the cultural richness of rural life; and securing legal protection for the Puelo River\u2019s flow by declaring it a Water Reserve. For more information about Puelo Patagonia, visit www.puelopatagonia.cl or on Instagram@puelopatagonia<\/p>\n About Freyja Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n Freyja Foundation is an international private, charitable organization dedicated to developing and supporting innovative, scalable, and lasting conservation solutions that protect wild places and combat the climate crisis. Its work integrates protecting existing at-threat carbon sinks, re-establishing biodiversity, and empowering local communities. Since 2022, Freyja has been involved in protecting the Cocham\u00f3 Valley by acquiring and safeguarding a key property and supporting Puelo Patagonia in the creation of the Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn campaign. For more information about Freyja Foundation, visit freyjafoundation.org or @freyja_foundation.<\/p>\n About The Nature Conservancy (TNC)<\/b><\/p>\n The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world\u2019s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org<\/a> or follow @nature_press<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Present in Chile for over 20 years, TNC conserves the Valdivian Coastal Reserve<\/a>, which has invaluable natural and cultural wealth, through a co-management model with local communities. For more information about TNC\u2019s work in Chile, visit nature.org\/chile<\/a> or @tnc_chile on Instagram.<\/p>\n About Patagonia\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n We\u2019re in business to save our home planet. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. As a certified B Corporation and a founding member of 1% for the Planet, the company is recognized internationally for its product quality and environmental activism, as well as its contributions of more than $240 million to environmental organizations. Its unique ownership structure reflects that Earth is its only shareholder: Profits not reinvested back into the business are paid to Holdfast Collective to protect the planet.<\/p>\n About The Wyss Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. Since its establishment in 1998, it has helped governments, Indigenous communities, and other charitable organizations protect over 40 million hectares of land and more than 3 million square kilometers of ocean. For more information about the Wyss Foundation, visit www.wyssfoundation.org or follow https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheWyssFoundation\/<\/a> on Facebook or @WyssFoundation on X.<\/p>\n<\/div> CR\u00c9DITOS: VALENTINA THENOUX<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8074,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8120"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8121,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8120\/revisions\/8121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/conservapucheguin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VALENTINA-THENOUX-CREDITOS-.jpg\" "\\"VALENTINA-THENOUX—CRE\u0301DITOS-\\"")
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