Private land ownership becomes a tool for ecosystem conservation in Chile

Individuals, foundations, and local communities in Chile are purchasing land to protect ecosystems from extractive industries and urban development.

This strategy serves as a practical alternative to traditional government-led environmental policies, which often involve lengthy legislative processes. By acquiring property, these actors can immediately restrict activities like mining, logging, and fracking. The strategy gained international attention through the work of Douglas Tompkins and Kristine McDivitt Tompkins.

Starting in the 1990s, the couple bought vast areas of native forest in southern Chile to prevent environmental degradation. Following the death of Douglas Tompkins in 2015, Kristine Tompkins and the Chilean government reached a historic agreement. In 2017, former president Michelle Bachelet and Kristine Tompkins signed a protocol where Tompkins Conservation donated 407,625 hectares, while the Chilean state added nearly 949,000 hectares.

This collaboration established the Red de Parques Nacionales de la Patagonia, a network that currently protects about 4.5 million hectares. This network includes areas such as Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and Parque Nacional Patagonia. Beyond large donations, local communities and environmental groups now buy smaller plots to protect water sources, mountain valleys, and native forests from subdivision and industrial use.

Chile supports these efforts through a specific legal tool called the Derecho Real de Conservación, established by Law 20,930 in 2016. This law allows owners to voluntarily place permanent restrictions on their land, such as prohibiting logging or mining. These legal restrictions remain in effect even if the land is sold or inherited, ensuring that conservation efforts continue regardless of who owns the property.