Rewilding Chile

Rewilding Chile is the legacy of Tompkins Conservation, dedicated to restoring and protecting the wild landscapes of Chilean Patagonia. Through its work, Rewilding Chile seeks to expand marine and terrestrial national parks, restore vital ecological corridors, and foster coexistence between people and wildlife. Central to its mission is the Route of Parks, an interconnected system of 17 national parks spanning one-third of Chile, 11.8 million hectares of pristine wilderness and 60 gateway communities. 

This vast region is home to Chile’s temperate rainforests, subantarctic forests, wetlands, and the largest fjord system in the Southern Hemisphere. It harbours 52% of Chile’s IUCN Red List species, and serves as one of South America’s richest carbon sinks, storing nearly three times more carbon per hectare than the Amazon. Yet, these ecosystems face mounting threats from habitat fragmentation, climate change, and unsustainable development. 

The ERF grant supports Rewilding Chile to expand protected areas, restore ecological connectivity, strengthen protected area management and scientific capacity, and foster cross-border collaboration across Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. The funding also supports the strengthening of community engagement and advocacy, ensuring local people are key partners in building a sustainable future for Patagonia’s unique landscapes and wildlife. 

ERF supported Rewilding Chile with a £11.25m grant in 2023. This support helped Rewilding Chile secure more than 140,000 hectares for Cape Froward National Park, support an 8-million-hectare conservation corridor Route of Parks of Patagonia, and lead pioneering species recovery and monitoring initiatives.