Development and Implementation of Management Plans with CONAF

Fundación Patagonia Sur is supporting CONAF, the Corporación Nacional Forestal, which manages all of Chile´s national parks and reserves, in developing and implementing management plans for the Lake Palena National Reserve and Futaleufú National Reserve. 

In 2008, the foundation worked with SurAmbiente, an environmental consulting firm, and CONAF to conduct baseline studies of the Lake Palena National Reserve.  Lake Palena straddles both Chile and Argentina and the Reserve’s 120,000 acres on the Chilean side are virtually unexplored.  These baseline studies identified various flora, fauna, and ecosystems present in the park.

The management plans are based largely on information gathered from these baseline studies and are developed in partnership with the communities that border the protected areas. 

In meetings held from June until October of 2009, CONAF and SurAmbiente outlined objectives for the development of Lake Palena National Reserve and Futaleufú National Reserve, taking into close consideration the interests expressed by community members present, including Fundación Patagonia Sur. 

The development of these management plans plays a significant role in the area, as they are expected to enhance tourism and heighten environmental protection regulations within the parks.  The foundation also foresees an increased sense of pride among community members for their areas’ natural resources and touristic attractions.

In addition, in October 2009 CONAF organized an Advisory Council for the National System of Protected Wild Areas (SNAPSE) in the Palena Province.  The purpose of the Advisory Council is to involve public and private sectors in decision-making that affects the province’s public protected areas.  Lake Palena National Reserve and Futaleufú National Reserve are two of four protected areas found in the province.  Fundación Patagonia Sur forms part of the Advisory Council and will actively participate in decision-making regarding the region’s public protected areas.