Cochamó Valley (Patagonia) fundraising campaign surpasses 50% of goal

The goal is US$78 million. One year into the fundraising campaign, the organizations leading this project are celebrating having surpassed 50% of the total fundraising amount. This ambitious figure—which also includes a conservation plan following the acquisition of Fundo Puchegüín—has got support from hundreds of donors in 17 countries, bringing global attention on Chile, where the opportunity to create one of the largest biological corridors in Latin America feels increasingly within reach.

Being the second-largest carbon sink on the continent, Patagonia plays a vital role in the fight against climate change. Its vast forests, peatlands, and wetlands store twice as much carbon per hectare as the Amazon. Puchegüín alone hosts over 58,000 hectares (143,000 acres) of old-growth forest, an ecosystem increasingly under threat from global deforestation, along with an extensive hydrological network.

The campaign lead by Conserva Puchegüín focuses on three key areas: effective ecosystem conservation, participatory engagement with local communities, and the promotion of sustainable development models. These three pillars are driven by an alliance between Puelo Patagonia, The Nature Conservancy, Freyja Foundation, Patagonia Inc., and the Wyss Foundation.

“Conserva Puchegüín is not just a beautiful story of hope, it’s also a notable story of courage—because courage is fueled by hope and invites action. We see our brand’s values come to life in this project, where sport, activism, and community are intertwined. The Puchegüín property is an unmatched playground, with world-class climbing routes, and it is through outdoor sports that we hope to inspire the protection of places like this,” stated Macarena Sánchez, Marketing and Environmental Director of Patagonia Chile.

Key Milestones
In a global context of climate crisis, Conserva Puchegüín has brought together hundreds of individuals, foundations, and organizations committed to safeguarding one of the last temperate rainforests on Earth. The current fundraised amount—US$45.24 million—not only represents tangible progress but also sends a clear message: the world is watching Cochamó.

Meanwhile, the technical plan is already underway. More than 80% of the planning is currently being carried out in Chile’s Los Lagos Region. Among the actions being implemented is biodiversity monitoring, including the installation of camera traps, sampling campaigns, and the involvement of local communities. These efforts have led to the identification of 40 species, including endemic and threatened ones such as the Huemul deer, the Monito del Monte (an endemic marsupial), and Darwin’s Frog.

Active community involvement has been one of the fundamental pillars of Conserva Puchegüín. The goal is to implement a conservation model with local governance. This is why the work behind the Community Co-Design Workshops to build an Integrated Conservation Strategy, along with more than 150 individual interviews and 8 large-scale informational meetings, are all part of the broader strategy to plant the seeds of conservation within the community.

How to Help
Known as the “missing piece of the puzzle,” the territory connected by Conserva Puchegüín is set to become one of the largest biological corridors in Latin America, linking fragmented habitats and enabling the free movement of wildlife across protected ecosystems. Those who wish to join this global cause can do so at www.conservapucheguin.org/en/donate, by donating or following the project’s Instagram handle.

You can read more about the Puchegüín property at Cochamó Por Siempre by Patagonia Stories.