Convergence of Conservation and Responsible Tourism (Cochamó Valley, Chile)
The powerful convergence of conservation and responsible tourism is essential for protecting the places we love—and this story is a powerful example of that success.
Project Highlights
CONSERVATION
Our film showcases one of the most successful conservation stories in Chile.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Our film shows the importance of responsible tourism in protecting the valley.
COLLABORATION
Our film highlights an amazing group of locals who led a collaborative, innovative approach to protecting Cochamó.
Details
Partner: Puelo Patagonia and Organización Valle Cochamó
Location: Valle Cochamó, Chile
Key Themes: Conservation | Collaboration | Community | Responsible Tourism
CHALLENGE:
The local people of Cochamó Valley have been relentlessly fighting to save their way of life and land for decades. From threats of building a hydroelectric dam to overtourism and more, the local people and two small grassroots nonprofits, Puelo Patagonia and the Organización Valle Cochamó (OVC), never gave up.
The greatest opportunity—and challenge—emerged in 2022, when the remaining 131,000 hectares of Hacienda Puchegüín (a large pristine piece of land in Cochamó Valley) went up for sale. For the community, it was a once-in-a-generation chance to secure permanent protection for the valley. Led by Puelo Patagonia and supported by global partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, the Freyja Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation, the Conserva Puchegüín campaign was launched. Its mission: to purchase and safeguard the land so its ecological and cultural richness can endure for generations.
It has been an extraordinary undertaking, demanding relentless work and persistence. They have nearly reached their goal of raising the money. If successful, the land purchase will help establish one of the largest wildlife corridors in South America—spanning more than 1,600,000 hectares of protected areas.
SOLUTION:
GLP Films produced pro bono a short film documenting the powerful story of how the local community and grassroots nonprofits Puelo Patagonia and OVC built a coalition with local, national, and international powerhouse nonprofits (The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, the Freyja Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation) to establish one of the largest wildlife conservation efforts in South America.
With almost all of the fundraising goal achieved, the Conserva Puchegüín project has positioned itself as one of the most impactful conservation initiatives in Chile, after a group composed of national and international organizations set out to raise a multi-million dollar sum to conserve 133,000 hectares in the commune of Cochamó, Los Lagos Region. An amazing achievement that all began through local, grassroots community efforts.
Key Takeaways
BREAK DOWN THE SILOS AND COLLABORATE.
ACT WITH URGENCY.
HONOR THE LOCAL WAY OF LIFE.
PLACE THE COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER.
LEVERAGE THE POWER OF TOURISM.
BUILD A GLOBAL MODEL FOR CONSERVATION.
Video Storytelling
SAVING COCHAMÓ: A COMMUNITY PROTECTS THE WILD
The future of wild places depends on one powerful truth: conservation and responsible tourism can only thrive together. And few stories illustrate that better than what’s unfolding in Chile’s Cochamó Valley—often called the “Yosemite of South America.”
Our short film, “Saving Cochamó: A Community Protects the Wild” (5:50), spotlights the remarkable locals who pioneered a bold, community-led model to safeguard this iconic landscape for everyone.
At the center of this success is a small but determined local nonprofit, Puelo Patagonia, which teamed up with another grassroots partner, Organización Valle Cochamó. Together, they built an unprecedented alliance with global conservation leaders, including The Nature Conservancy, the Freyja Foundation, Patagonia, and the Wyss Foundation.
This radical collaboration—uniting local voices with national and international partners—secured the land, biodiversity, culture, and water resources of Cochamó Valley for generations to come. This story is more than a conservation win. It is a blueprint for how communities, travelers, and global partners can work together to protect the places we love before it is too late.
Photos: Hass Salum