By Rodrigo Condeza
Condeza is founder of Puelo Patagonia.
What has happened in the last 20 years of conservation history in Cochamó can be understood as “environmental alchemy”. A concept that, although it has more than one interpretation, also refers to the adaptation of new methodologies and creative approaches to environmental protection projects, with the goal of transforming traditional practices into more effective and sustainable solutions.
Throughout this history we have faced real threats, such as hydroelectric dam projects and real estate development projects, which endanger the biodiversity and natural heritage of the area. However, instead of being victims of these threats, we transformed them into opportunities to protect the territory and strengthen local communities.
Today, this approach leads us to a new initiative: Conserva Puchegüín.
A few months ago, Puelo Patagonia, together with five international and national conservation organizations, launched this idea with the goal of protecting in perpetuity the nearly 133,000 hectares of this private ranch located in northern Chilean Patagonia. These lands, which have been for sale since 2022, represent 30 percent of the Cochamo district and are home to incalculable biodiversity, including endangered species such as the huemul, as well as glaciers, lakes, rivers, wetlands and rock formations that attract climbers and tourists from all over the world.
Moreover, this immense tract of land is home to mountain people who have lived off the land for generations, making border sovereignty their own. This initiative is not just about conserving nature for its own sake, but about finding a formula that allows the local community to maintain current uses and thrive while taking care of their environment.
Conserving this space means developing activities such as ecotourism and sustainable agriculture that allow the community to generate income. Therefore, the importance of protecting Puchegüín lies not only in its ecological value, but also in an opportunity to strengthen the socioeconomic development of a community that lives isolated and neglected by the State.
In Cochamó, many families depend on the area's natural resources to survive. With an average monthly income of $350,000 per household, the community faces significant economic challenges. As such, the project aims to generate sustainable income opportunities, facilitate access to basic services, and encourage agricultural and tourism practices that not only respect the environment, but also enrich it.
On a global scale, the Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce) forests present in Pucheguín are an asset in the fight against climate change because of their exceptional capacity to absorb and store carbon over long periods of time. These ancient forests act as carbon sinks, capturing large amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere and retaining it in their biomass and soils, being a key component in meeting global conservation goals.
In addition, Patagonian forests store almost twice as much carbon per hectare as Amazon forests, making them a crucial piece in mitigating climate change. They are also a key component in meeting global conservation targets, such as the 30x30 initiative, which aims to protect 30% of ecosystems by 2030.
But beyond their importance in the international context, what we really want is to ensure that conservation efforts are lasting and effective. To achieve this, we believe that the involvement of local communities is essential. It's not just about protecting the alerce trees, it's about involving those who live here so that conservation becomes part of their lives and their future.
And this is where the evolution and transformation of conservation projects comes into play. Traditionally, many efforts have depended on large international donors or States that sometimes do not have the necessary resources to guarantee long-term protection.
At Conserva Puchegüín, we have decided to take those previous experiences, which opened many paths for us, and adapt them. We took advantage of a unique opportunity and got ahead of it. We got ahead of the threat, we got ahead of the community being left on the sidelines, and we got ahead of ensuring that the project was sustainable from the beginning. To achieve this, we are building a strong coalition and launching an open and transparent fundraising campaign that integrates both Chileans and foreigners, thus generating a global impact.
This approach involves moving from a model based on large donors to one in which local, national and international participation is organically intertwined. It is a great challenge, but we are confident that this approach, born from the local and projected to the global, is the right way to go.
Cochamó, with its people and nature, has taught us that effective conservation emerges when we start from within and build a harmonious, sustainable, replicable and lasting model of protection.
This is our opportunity to apply all that we have learned and transform not only how we protect this place, but also how we build a future in which conservation and development go hand in hand. Thanks to that alchemy, we know we are at the right time to act.
Today, this approach leads us to a new initiative: Conserva Puchegüín.
A few months ago, Puelo Patagonia, together with five international and national conservation organizations, launched this idea with the goal of protecting in perpetuity the nearly 133,000 hectares of this private ranch located in northern Chilean Patagonia. These lands, which have been for sale since 2022, represent 30 percent of the Cochamo district and are home to incalculable biodiversity, including endangered species such as the huemul, as well as glaciers, lakes, rivers, wetlands and rock formations that attract climbers and tourists from all over the world.
Moreover, this immense tract of land is home to mountain people who have lived off the land for generations, making border sovereignty their own. This initiative is not just about conserving nature for its own sake, but about finding a formula that allows the local community to maintain current uses and thrive while taking care of their environment.
Conserving this space means developing activities such as ecotourism and sustainable agriculture that allow the community to generate income. Therefore, the importance of protecting Puchegüín lies not only in its ecological value, but also in an opportunity to strengthen the socioeconomic development of a community that lives isolated and neglected by the State.
In Cochamó, many families depend on the area's natural resources to survive. With an average monthly income of $350,000 per household, the community faces significant economic challenges. As such, the project aims to generate sustainable income opportunities, facilitate access to basic services, and encourage agricultural and tourism practices that not only respect the environment, but also enrich it.
On a global scale, the Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce) forests present in Pucheguín are an asset in the fight against climate change because of their exceptional capacity to absorb and store carbon over long periods of time. These ancient forests act as carbon sinks, capturing large amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere and retaining it in their biomass and soils, being a key component in meeting global conservation goals.
In addition, Patagonian forests store almost twice as much carbon per hectare as Amazon forests, making them a crucial piece in mitigating climate change. They are also a key component in meeting global conservation targets, such as the 30x30 initiative, which aims to protect 30% of ecosystems by 2030.
But beyond their importance in the international context, what we really want is to ensure that conservation efforts are lasting and effective. To achieve this, we believe that the involvement of local communities is essential. It's not just about protecting the alerce trees, it's about involving those who live here so that conservation becomes part of their lives and their future.
And this is where the evolution and transformation of conservation projects comes into play. Traditionally, many efforts have depended on large international donors or States that sometimes do not have the necessary resources to guarantee long-term protection.
At Conserva Puchegüín, we have decided to take those previous experiences, which opened many paths for us, and adapt them. We took advantage of a unique opportunity and got ahead of it. We got ahead of the threat, we got ahead of the community being left on the sidelines, and we got ahead of ensuring that the project was sustainable from the beginning. To achieve this, we are building a strong coalition and launching an open and transparent fundraising campaign that integrates both Chileans and foreigners, thus generating a global impact.
This approach involves moving from a model based on large donors to one in which local, national and international participation is organically intertwined. It is a great challenge, but we are confident that this approach, born from the local and projected to the global, is the right way to go.
Cochamó, with its people and nature, has taught us that effective conservation emerges when we start from within and build a harmonious, sustainable, replicable and lasting model of protection.
This is our opportunity to apply all that we have learned and transform not only how we protect this place, but also how we build a future in which conservation and development go hand in hand. Thanks to that alchemy, we know we are at the right time to act.
The time to protect Cochamo forever is now.
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