Chile to Establish Cape Froward National Park in Patagonia, Protecting 200,000 Hectares of Coastline and Forest
Chile is set to establish the Cape Froward national park, safeguarding approximately 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of Patagonian coastline and forest. This move will complete a 2,800 km wildlife corridor extending to the southern tip of the Americas.
The park will be Chile's 47th national park, created on land donated by Tompkins Conservation and Rewilding Chile following a 2023 agreement with the government. The area boasts a wind-torn coastline, forested valleys rich in biodiversity, and sites of Indigenous history, including those linked to the Kawésqar people.
A key feature of the park is the San Isidro lighthouse, designed by George Slight, which will be restored and transformed into a museum and cafe to serve as the park's entry point. The landscape also includes 10,000 hectares of sphagnum bogs that play a significant role in carbon storage.
The region provides habitat for endangered species such as the huemul deer, huillín river otter, and pumas. A wildlife camera network regularly captures images of pumas and huillín river otters, and in February, a population of 10 huemul deer was observed within the area.
Indigenous consultation was conducted in September. The environment ministry aims to advance the park's establishment plan by March, with the stipulation that if no progress is made within two years, the lands will revert to Tompkins’ organizations. Cape Froward forms part of a broader effort by Tompkins Conservation and Rewilding Chile to link land purchases and state-held properties in Patagonia into an extensive conservation corridor.
