THE LEGACY FOUNDATION

HELPING PATAGONIA’S FORESTS FLOURISH

Located in southern Chile’s Magallanes Region, Torres del Paine National Park is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a global symbol of Patagonian biodiversity. Its 150 miles of trekking trails and iconic peaks attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. However, this increasing popularity has resulted in negative consequences. Overuse, overcrowding, and inadequate infrastructure have led to wildfires, severe habitat fragmentation, ecosystem degradation and disruption of species.

Patagonia's dry summers and strong winds allow fire to spread quickly through native vegetation that can take up to two centuries to mature. Even one careless act can cause lasting damage. Twenty-nine human-caused fires were recorded between 1985 and 2011 alone, affecting more than 36,000 hectares. The three most destructive were traced to visitor carelessness: in 1985, a discarded cigarette burned about 14,000 hectares; in 2005, a camping stove sparked a 10-day blaze that destroyed roughly seven percent of the park; and in December 2011, an attempt to burn toilet paper ignited a fire that consumed some 40,000 acres and closed the park for weeks.

To address this situation, AKP has partnered with the Legacy Foundation and the National Forest Corporation (CONAF) to establish a native plant greenhouse within Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. This initiative aims to support ecosystem restoration, protect biodiversity and enhance climate resilience.

By producing genetically appropriate native plants such as the slow-growing lenga and ñirre for reforestation and revegetation, this project directly supports the recovery of critical wildlife habitats for species like the endangered huemul deer and black woodpecker. Restoring fire-damaged lenga forests and steppe ecosystems will strengthen ecological connectivity, prevent erosion and protect the park’s extraordinary biodiversity for decades to come.

This project also helps mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through native reforestation and restoration of degraded soils that support carbon cycling. It also builds long-term climate resilience by strengthening ecosystem health, reducing fire vulnerability and enhancing the park’s natural defences against extreme weather.

Most importantly, the project strengthens the region’s identity as a leader in conservation travel, ensuring that the tourism economy remains viable and values-driven in the face of environmental change.

Beyond the park, the project has significant potential to expand to Puerto Natales, creating local demand for native flora production. This opens new avenues for economic diversification — such as local gardeners growing native species for restaurants, hotels and tour operators seeking to reduce their environmental impact.