Parque Patagonia

In 2004, Conservacion Patagonica purchased the 170,500-acre Estancia Valle Chacabuco, located in a biologically critical region in Chile. This stunningly beautiful area, with mountains, lakes, rivers, grassland, and an abundance of indigenous wildlife, features an array of ecosystems. Thanks to this range of habitats, biodiversity can thrive.
When this land was acquired, it was seriously overgrazed and degraded. The thin soils were vulnerable to wind erosion, and desertification had begun to set in. Conservacion Patagonica set about changing the odds by selling off livestock, removing hundreds of miles of fences, restoring grasslands and forests, and developing species-specific restoration programs. The rate of recovery has been astonishing. This protected area, which Conservation Patagonia hopes to bequeath to the Chilean government as a national park, is now open for anybody to visit.
This book, illustrated with stunning photographs and engaging maps, is an introduction to this alluring destination. It is also the story of a new generation of land conservation and environmentalism. Complete restoration will take decades, but project biologists are impressed with the speed with which grasslands have regained their vitality. Park visitors can easily see the contrast between the future Patagonia National Park and surrounding properties, where livestock remains.