Southern Chile

Flanked by snowcapped volcanoes and Andean mountain peaks, the Southern Chile region is a diverse and remarkable place. The area encompasses parts of Chile and Argentina, as well as coastal waters off the coast of Chile.

The area’s Valdivian forests—South America’s only temperate rain forest—contain some of the world’s largest and oldest trees. Only 40 percent of the estimated 35 million acres of original forest remains intact today.

The Gulf of Corcovado is the fertile feeding and nursing grounds for blue whales—the world’s largest mammal. The waters are also home to numerous other marine species, including humpback, sei and sperm whales, sea lions, seals and several dolphin species.

Negative impacts on the marine environment

The expansion of industrial fishing and aquaculture activities in the Gulf of Corcovado are major threats. Over-exploitation, increased maritime traffic, trawling, and incidental bycatch all negatively impact the marine environment. Salmon farming and cultured mussel production, significant industries for Southern Chile, are negatively impacting fragile marine life. Additionally, climate change is already accelerating glacial melting and break-up in the region.

Unsustainable logging and conversion of habitat

Globalization and its effects are taking an extreme toll on the region's health. Weak regulatory and government enforcement capacity mean there is little defense against aggressive commercial development in the region. Unsustainable logging and conversion of habitat to plantations of pine and eucalyptus—used to create wood chips for export—have dramatically reduced native forest cover.