“A Climate Refuge”: Nature Sanctuary Surrounded by Mountains of Granite

There is a brand-new sanctuary in Chile, covering more than 11,000 hectares. It stands out for its diversity in fauna and flora and is surrounded by impressive granite walls.

According to Maisa Rojas, Chile’s environment minister, due to “its abrupt topography and the presence of well-preserved native forests, this area is a climate refuge that provides ecosystem services, generating benefits for people.”

Located in the Los Lagos region at the northern edge of Chilean Patagonia, the 11,432-hectare Cochamó Valley Nature Sanctuary is surrounded by gigantic granite walls. It is home to some 50 animal species – pudú, monito del monte, puma, and Andean condor, to name a few – as well as ancient alerce trees, riparian wetlands, and 6 of the 12 forest types that exist in Chile. Nature sanctuary regulations allow for strict conservation in areas of high ecological value while being compatible with historical uses such as herding livestock and other activities since they don’t harm the conservation objectives and other protection criteria set forth.