In the far south of Chile, where the Andes fall away into fjords and wind‑scoured plains, a change is unfolding. The air carries the scent of wild grasses once trampled by livestock, and guanacos graze where sheep once stripped the land bare. Across millions of acres, degraded ranchlands have been transformed into thriving ecosystems, creating a vast corridor of life from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn.
Rewilding Patagonia has been one of the most ambitious environmental recovery movements on Earth. This dramatic South American landscape, dotted with glacier‑capped peaks and turquoise lakes, thrives today through the dedication of conservationists, local communities, indigenous groups and the Government of Chile. This success story for Chile conservation shows how national vision and local action can work in harmony.
Patagonia’s Dramatic Comeback
Depleted and fragmented grasslands dominated by sheep farms once characterised Chilean Patagonia. Through removing livestock, dismantling fences and restoring habitats, native landscapes have rebounded over recent decades, bringing back the wildlife and ecological processes that once defined this region.
The Route of Parks is at the centre of this revival. It is a conservation corridor that spans 28 million acres, linking 17 national parks and sheltering guanacos, pumas and countless endemic species. Vast ice fields, pristine rivers and intricate fjord systems enrich its ecosystems, while peatlands and temperate rainforests store immense amounts of carbon. This network has become a showcase of rewilding Patagonia, inspiring similar large‑scale projects and strengthening the reputation of Chile’s conservation work worldwide.
The Tompkins Legacy
Douglas Tompkins, founder of The North Face, and Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, pioneered the “purchase‑restore‑donate” model. Over nearly three decades, they acquired more than one million acres of degraded ranchland in Patagonia, removing livestock, restoring native habitats and reintroducing endemic species such as Darwin’s rheas and huemul deer.
In 2018, they completed the most significant private land donation in history: over one million acres gifted to Chile, matched by nine million acres of public land to create and expand eight national parks. Their model is now studied worldwide, demonstrating how philanthropy, science and government collaboration can deliver lasting gains for biodiversity and climate resilience. Their approach remains one of the most influential contributions to rewilding Patagonia and continues to shape conservation thinking far beyond Chile.
Species Returning from the Brink
Huemul Deer
One of the best case studies for recovery is the huemul deer, one of South America’s most endangered large mammals. There are fewer than 1,500 of this keystone species left, signalling the vulnerability of Patagonia’s ecosystems.
The National Huemul Corridor, established in 2024, aims to reconnect isolated populations, reduce genetic bottlenecks and enable huemul to move freely along restored landscapes. Conservationists discovered a new subpopulation in 2025, demonstrating wildlife’s ability to persist when core habitat remains intact.
Predators and Other Species
Other success stories in Chilean Patagonia include pumas; their densities in Patagonia National Park and Torres del Paine now rank among the highest recorded anywhere. This comeback supports healthier natural systems and fuels a new ecotourism economy, with puma tracking tours generating income for local communities.
Darwin’s rheas, guanacos, condors and other animals are also returning. Population reintroductions and breeding programs, such as the translocation of wild rheas from Argentina to Chile, have helped reverse declines caused by overgrazing and habitat fragmentation. These successes reflect a broad ecosystem revival where multiple species return as part of interconnected, healthy landscapes.
Policy, Protection and the Road Ahead
Bold vision and policy have underpinned the story of rewilding Patagonia. The government has united the management of all protected areas under the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP), including private reserves, national parks and community‑managed areas, to position Chile as a leader in global biodiversity protection.
One of this agency’s largest ambitions is protecting the country’s waters. In Patagonia, the focus is on expanding strict coastal safeguards from 1% to 10%, thereby protecting fjords, kelp forests, and endangered marine species. The planned Cape Froward National Park will link terrestrial and marine protection, securing more than 300,000 acres of unique subantarctic biodiversity.
Chile’s integrated approach offers a model for how nations can combine science, community and political will to protect their vital landscapes. Its bold vision for rewilding Patagonia demonstrates what the world might look like if we give it the opportunity to heal.
Interested in Rewilding Patagonia?
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