In our role as conservation guarantors of the Bosques del Tinguiririca area, we were invited to participate in a day of field activities, hiking, learning, and camaraderie in the commune of San Fernando, Región de O’Higgins. Organized by a group of members of the Agrupación de Ingenieros Forestales por el Bosque Nativo (AIFBN), the event brought together more than 20 people who enjoyed the natural beauty of Central Chile. One of the most inspiring activities of the day was the forest walk, as it provided the opportunity to see firsthand how the natural regeneration of the ecosystem in Bosques del Tinguiririca has progressed since it was protected.

We traveled to Santa Marta to participate in the 2024 South American Conservation Forum of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, where we met with experts and organizations from across the region to discuss the most important issues in conservation and sustainable development. It was a space to discuss priorities and define the regional positioning for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. It was also a valuable lead-up to COP16.

We once again participated in the Protected Areas and Portal Communities Meeting 2024, which took place at the Centro Cultural La Moneda. During the event, we had the opportunity to speak with attendees about the daily work we do as a team to conserve various critical ecosystems in our country, showcased at a large stand that we prepared with great care. Throughout the enriching day, our Executive Director, Victoria Alonso, took part in a panel discussing the contribution of civil society organizations and public-private partnerships to the country and the 30x30 goal.

We are proud to have been part of the Land Trust Alliance Rally 2024 in the United States! This year, we had the opportunity to participate in training sessions and interesting workshops. Additionally, we were able to present on the current state of conservation in Chile, highlighting the challenges we face, as a large part of Chile's territory is privately owned. We discussed the urgency of mobilizing the private sector, connecting it with the public sphere to meet conservation goals by 2030.

Parque Valle Los Ulmos has been equipped with two weather stations! This is an extraordinary advancement that will allow us to obtain precise, real-time data on rainfall and temperatures, which is vital information for the efficient and sustainable planning of water usage in our protected area. These stations will also provide the ability to more effectively monitor fire risks, which is crucial for preserving the integrity of our ecosystems. Additionally, they will be online thanks to a platform provided by the Agricultural Research Institute.

Chile will be the fourth country in the world to implement a Business Action Program for Biodiversity, an initiative aimed at ensuring the private sector generates positive impacts on nature and biodiversity. In this context, our country is already working on the design of this Plan to ensure that the international commitments are met. Fundación Tierra Austral was invited to participate in one of the macro-regional workshops for the Plan (organized by Acción Empresas with the support of the Ministry of the Environment), where the set goals and proposed work strategies to achieve them were discussed.

In August, we held a very special gathering at Parque La Giganta, where part of our team had the privilege of meeting with our friends from the Reserva Natural San Jorge… And of course, Tierra Austral also took part! This exchange was not only an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty but also a space to share enriching experiences and stories that have shaped each of the protected areas. The purpose was to create a space to share stories, knowledge, and strategies that have been implemented in their respective areas of work.

On July 19, we took part in the seminar "Challenges for the 30x30 Target," organized by the Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP). The event, which included participation from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), aimed to explore the complexities of developing effective strategies to integrate government, the private sector, and local communities in collective efforts to protect 30% of the territory by 2030, as outlined in Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Victoria Alonso, Executive Director of Fundación Tierra Austral, called on authorities to create more opportunities for engagement with the private sector and civil society organizations.

As part of the partnership between Fundación Tierra Austral and Chilean wines from Ventisquero Wine State—aimed at supporting our efforts to conserve the Mediterranean ecosystem of Central Chile—a special session was held for the winery's employees. This activity focused on the biodiversity pillar of Ventisquero Wine State’s sustainability policy, highlighting the impact of the contributions that the winery has made to the conservation actions carried out by Fundación Tierra Austral.

Tierra Austral visited the area to plan upcoming activities aimed at conserving this site in collaboration with the landowners. One of these milestones is the sustainable opening of the reserve for community activities. Reserva Los Molles, a place we’ve previously told you about: more than 889.579 acres of land preserved in perpetuity, located in the Quilpué commune, in the stunning Cordillera de la Costa. Additionally, we met the reserve's new park ranger, who is already conducting regular patrols to monitor the land and ensure compliance with conservation regulations.

We turn our gaze towards the East Coast of the United States, visiting the Boston area and the Hudson River Valley. The reason? This region is particularly significant as it is where it all began. Here, land trusts—conservation organizations like ours—and conservation leaders have protected hundreds of thousands of hectares of wildlife habitat, endangered species, productive farms, forests, and scenic lands that are vital to local communities.

Tierra Austral had the honor of participating in the event organized by Corporación Altos del Cantillana under the program "Community Against Fire". This event was held to educate about the importance of environmental protection. During the event, we set up an informational booth where attendees could learn in detail about our nature conservation efforts. We highlighted especially the use of Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) as an effective tool to ensure perpetual protection of private lands.

On June 5th, World Environment Day, an important event focused on the conservation of the Cordón del Pangalillo took place in the O'Higgins Region. This gathering was part of the efforts by a public-private partnership aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation in this area, as previously highlighted in our newsletter. Tierra Austral Foundation is involved in this initiative, where DRC are positioned as a suitable tool for this objective.

Our team traveled to Los Pellines, a protected wilderness area located in the Chillán River Valley, to join other civil society organizations promoting the Protected Rivers Law. This initiative aims to strengthen the protection of the country's rivers through, among other measures, new regulations on protected and restored rivers. More than 15 organizations participated in this event, which aimed to analyze strategies and outline concrete and collaborative action plans for river conservation in Chile.

Fundación Tierra Austral met in Rancagua, O’Higgins Region, with the Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of Agriculture, Cristian Silva, representatives from the Fundación Añañuca team, local organizations, and professionals from regional agricultural services, to continue the conservation work of the Pangalillo mountain range.

Tierra Austral was invited to take part in an exchange with the Sonoma Land Trust, a conservation organization based in California, United States. The goal of this exchange is to establish a relationship of learning, collaboration, and mutual benefit between both organizations. Both Fundación Tierra Austral and Sonoma Land Trust are leaders in the conservation of private lands in their respective Mediterranean climate regions.

We have initiated the process of developing the Management Plan for La Giganta Park. This effort, undertaken alongside the Photosintesis team and with the active participation of the park's staff, marks a significant milestone in our conservation mission, as it is a key tool to ensure environmental protection and conservation in project development. A management plan aims to establish specific measures and actions to minimize, mitigate, or compensate for the negative effects on natural resources, thus ensuring sustainability and environmental balance.

Tierra Austral participated in an informational meeting organized by the Ministry of the Environment to learn about the new Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP) and the Early Participation process that will be promoted to develop the Protected Areas Regulation. It is worth noting that the SBAP is based on four fundamental pillars: strengthening conservation, addressing the institutional dispersion of protected areas, providing the country with management tools for conservation, and generating robust and efficient financing for conservation.

Valle Los Ulmos Park is a beautiful place at the foothills of Calbuco Volcano, in the Ensenada area, Los Lagos Region, which has been permanently protected through a new Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreement. It's a biodiversity hotspot where Community, Conservation, and Science come together. The protection of this over 1400 acres area was formalized alongside the NGO Ranita de Darwin as co-holders, who will be responsible for safeguarding the habitat of amphibians found in the park.

Fundación Añañuca invited Fundación Tierra Austral to participate in the 10th Meeting for the Sclerophyllous Forest 2024, which took place on Sunday, March 24, at the Laguna Taguatagua School Museum (MELT). Our team participated in two ways: by presenting in a panel discussion on conservation experiences, and with an informational stand where we talked with attendees about the DRC and our conservation projects. We were able to answer questions about the Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC), the legal tool we use to formalize nature conservation on private lands.

We traveled to the Aysén Region to explore the area and assess various private spaces that can be preserved in perpetuity through the tool of the Derecho Real de Conservación. This place holds great significance: not only is it rich in ecological value, but it is also highly threatened. One of the major concerns is the change in land use for real estate purposes.

The protected areas under DRC agreements with which we work have been included in the Conaf initiative 'Botón Rojo' (Red Button). Thanks to this, they now have an important tool for preventing forest fires. This tool allows for the identification of territories with a higher potential for ignition and fire spread in case of a wildfire, guiding prevention actions and supporting planning processes.

Part of our team visited the Fundo Trinidad of Viña Ventisquero to support an internal awareness event where the vineyard's collaborators were informed about the activities carried out within the framework of its sustainability policy. During the session, the impact of Viña Ventisquero - through its Chilano brand contributions - supporting the Tierra Austral in the development of specific conservation actions was detailed."

Tierra Austral is a Conservation Guarantee Organization, and that's why team members traveled to the Los Lagos Region to carry out monitoring activities in two privately protected areas we work with. The goal was to assess the ecological status of their conservation values and identify potential threats. In addition to exploring Fundo Encantado, we conducted a workshop with Futaleufú River Keeper, where we were able to address community questions about the DRC.

Every January 26th, World Environmental Education Day is celebrated, a day that seeks to highlight the importance of education as a driver of change. This day invites us to reflect and raise awareness about the significance of educating ourselves and others regarding the conservation and care of nature. Thanks to our friends from the Cerro Poqui Sanctuary and La Giganta, for working tirelessly on this task. It is urgent that we all recognize the vital role played by educators, institutions, and activists in spreading environmental awareness.

The distinguished British botanist, Martín Gardner, who has been associated with the flora of our country for over 35 years, wanted to visit Cerro Poqui to continue his research, study, and delve into the vegetation of the central zone. Alongside him, we were able to observe different species and learn from his extensive experience. Gardner leads the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) at the renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, where he even has an impressive collection of Chilean plants that he has propagated himself.

Chilano Wines, one of the brands of the Ventisquero Wine Estates Group, will support us in strengthening, developing, and implementing the Boldo Cantillana project. Thanks to these contributions, three fundamental pillars of work will be sustained: the conservation of ecological values in protected areas through activities focused on the care of flora and fauna species, as well as the control and eradication of threats; the development of basic and enabling infrastructure in those protected areas open to the community; and the promotion of environmental education or scientific research activities.

With the presence of more than 60 people, Parque La Giganta was inaugurated in the Valparaíso Region, located in the commune of Panquehue. The place is a biodiversity refuge that positions itself as a new option for accessing nature, recreation, outdoor activities, education, and culture for visitors and nearby communities. It features a network of trails and educational guided tours and will be enhanced as a space for connecting with nature, engaging in artistic activities, recreation, environmental education, and scientific research in the Aconcagua Valley.

After over a year of work, the Tierra Austral Foundation managed to consolidate, together with the landowners, the formal and perpetual protection of an area located in the pre-Andes of the Maule Region, in the Los Queñes sector. This milestone is part of the effort of the landowners of this place who have worked for its conservation for over four decades. This new protected area is composed of the Central Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem, the least protected ecosystem in the country.

Victoria Alonso, Executive Director of Tierra Austral, was invited as one of the keynote speakers at the seventh annual Private Land Conservation Conference organized by the Australian Land Conservation Alliance (ALCA). At the event, named PLC23: Unite For Nature, held in Canberra, Australia, Victoria shared part of the story of the private land conservation movement in Chile. In front of an audience of over 400 people, she discussed the evolution of private conservation in Chile, highlighting the progress made by Tierra Austral and its dedicated team.

We went to the La Moneda Cultural Center to participate in the third meeting of 'Protected Areas and Communities Portal 2023,' where we could share experiences with authorities, administrators of protected wilderness areas, local communities, scientists, and academics on how to enhance the conservation of Chile's natural and cultural heritage. On this occasion, Fundación Tierra Austral had the honor of presenting at a seminar on private conservation and being present with an informational booth.

Through 1% for the Planet, a renowned global movement that channels resources for the development of environmental care initiatives, Viña Tarapacá has committed to donating a portion of its profits to support Fundación Tierra Austral in carrying out specific conservation actions as part of our Boldo Cantillana project. This ambitious conservation initiative aims to protect the Mediterranean ecosystem of Central Chile.

Every September 30th, in Chile, we celebrate National Park Ranger Day. Our message is one of gratitude to all the park rangers across the country, especially those we work alongside daily at the Cerro Poqui Sanctuary. Your dedication is essential to continue protecting our nation's natural areas. Thank you for your tireless work, your love for nature, and your desire to build a better future. You inspire us every day. Congratulations!

During the month of September, a portion of the team from the Southern Land Foundation undertook an inspiring conservation tour of locations in Oregon and Washington in the United States. During this journey, we were able to glean various significant lessons from a country that boasts over 70 years of history in conserving private lands.

During the first few days of September, we participated in the 36th edition of the Land Trust Alliance Rally, an annual conference in the United States that brings together conservation organizations or land trusts like Tierra Austral. This year, the Rally took place in Portland, Oregon, and saw the participation of over 2,200 individuals. It provided a training and learning opportunity about nature conservation through workshops, seminars, and field trips.

On September 5th, the "Exploración La Giganta" exhibition was inaugurated at the Interactive Knowledge Center in the Interactive Museum Mirador (MIM). It is a video installation that reflects the constant changes witnessed by the park and its landscape. La Giganta Park is a privately conserved area located in the Panquehue commune, Valparaíso Region, which is permanently protected through a Real Right of Conservation agreement with Tierra Austral.

On August 16th, Victoria Alonso, Executive Director of the Fundación Tierra Austral, gave a presentation at the Biodiversity and Sustainable Production workshop organized by the Asociación de Empresarios Vitivinícolas del Valle de Casablanca en conjunto con la Agencia de Sustentabilidad y Cambio Climático (ASCC). During the event, which took place as part of the activities of the Clean Production Agreement (APL), Tierra Austral discussed the initiatives it has promoted in the Boldo Cantillana project, aimed at conserving the last remnants of the Mediterranean ecosystem in Central Chile.

Tierra Austral participated in the construction of the report titled 'Effective Biodiversity Conservation: 30 Urgent Measures for 2030,' providing information on the Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) as a legal tool for private conservation. This information was incorporated into both the diagnosis of conservation in Chile and the recommendations presented in the study. The document also highlights the conservation standards jointly developed by the Tierra Austral and Así Conserva Chile.

During a field trip organized by the Fundación Tierra Austral to Parque La Giganta, a Chuncho was spotted for the first time. The location is a privately conserved area situated in the Panquehue commune, in the Valparaíso Region, perpetually protected through a Derecho Real de Conservación agreement. The species' scientific name is Glaucidium nana; it is a bird that inhabits from Atacama to Tierra del Fuego. It measures about 20 centimeters, and due to its size and silent flight, despite being described as the most abundant owl in Chile, it is not easy to spot.

Weeks ago, a strong frontal system negatively impacted certain areas of Chile, causing river overflows and flooding, consequently affecting a significant number of individuals. Coltauco, located in the O'Higgins Region, is a commune where the Cerro Poqui Nature Sanctuary is situated. As a result, the sanctuary team, a group of individuals from the neighboring communities that were severely affected by this frontal system, organized to assist the local residents. They collected food, clothing, and hygiene supplies to aid the community in the sector.

Tierra Austral has signed a Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreement, creating a new privately protected area in the pre-Andean zone of the Maule Region. This agreement covers the Roblerías Estate located in the commune of Teno, a territory of just over 403 hectares, historically used for logging and tree cutting for firewood and charcoal production. Out of this territory, 69% will be protected forever, meaning that after the signing of this new RRC agreement, 278 hectares will be conserved in perpetuity.

In Bosques del Tinguiririca, a natural reserve in the O'Higgins Region covering an approximate area of 1,600 hectares (3953 acre), various camera traps were installed in November, in collaboration with the environmental consulting team from Photosintesis. These camera traps captured different species, including the Leopardus Colocolo, an Andean wildcat believed to be threatened (although there is not enough information to determine if it is endangered or in a vulnerable state).

We created a new private protected area in the Los Lagos Region. Thanks to the signing of a Derecho Real de Conservación agreement, more than 70 hectares will be protected forever on the Big Island of Chiloé, which are part of the Chepu Wetlands Nature Sanctuary. This conservation initiative called Alihuén, is a project of ecological restoration, sociocultural connectivity, organic agriculture and inclusive ecotourism.

In Chile, 99.7% of fires are caused by humans. For this reason, Tierra Austral together with the National Forestry Corporation held a theoretical and practical conference on the first attack for the prevention and mitigation of these accidents. Representatives of local organizations, companies and landowners from central Chile participated. On the day, in addition to Conaf, Dr. Lisa Micheli of the Pepperwood Foundation of California (United States) presented her experience in the field and explained the combat mechanisms they have in California to deal with this type of emergency.

For three weeks the representative of the Tierra Austral Foundation traveled to northwest and central India, invited by the International Land Conservation Networs (ILCN). The trip aimed to expand ILCN's network in India and learn about how conservation issues are addressed in that country. They visited public and private protected areas and learned about tireless efforts to protect lands for future generations.

In Tierra Austral we celebrate 10 years working to conserve the environment and ecosystems threatened by human activity in our country. How have we lived this decade protecting the different ecosystems that make up Chile's natural heritage? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Enjoy the video that we prepared with love in this link.

We traveled to Canada to participate in the COP15 of Biodiversity in Montreal, and present our project Boldo Cantillana. During our participation, we were able to share with different organizations, indigenous communities and representatives of other conservation initiatives around the world. We hope that this conference will achieve effective results and ensure a robust biodiversity framework by 2030.

During November, members of the Tierra Austral team were invited by the BHP Foundation team to the 2022 Conference of the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA), the largest annual meeting of indigenous rangers in Australia, where we had the honor of presenting about our Boldo Cantillana Project. The conference provided an immersion in topics related to the conservation actions of indigenous communities, the opportunity to see impressive monuments of the desert and the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other organizations.

Together with our friends from Photosintesis, we organized this day at the Cerro Poqui Nature Sanctuary to share with all those interested in caring for the biodiversity of Central Chile. It was a day of exchange of experiences and learning about the conservation project that is being carried out in El Poqui, in addition to knowing its natural value from the hand of experts in flora, fauna and insects.

Part of the Tierra Austral Foundation team, traveled to New Orleans in the United States, to participate in the LTA Rally 2022, the annual meeting of land trusts that seeks to provide a space for learning and exchange of the more than 1,200 organizations of this type in the country. Tierra Austral was invited to present on the Derecho Real de Conservación and the experience in Chile.

In early August, Tierra Austral and the consulting firm Photosintesis jointly hosted and moderated the first governance workshop at the Cerro Poqui Nature Sanctuary at the Doñihue Public Library. The workshop was attended by park rangers and other stakeholders who are strongly committed to the long-term stewardship of this beautiful nature reserve, which is protected in perpetuity by a Derecho Real de Conservación agreement. The participants in the workshop had a lively and constructive discussion about long-term sustainable management and governance goals for the reserve. This meeting, set an important precedent for ongoing discussions about, and planning for, the permanent conservation and sustainable management of Cerro Poqui.

Don Weeden is an internationally-known conservation leader who recently retired from serving for more than 20 years as the Executive Director of the New York-based Weeden Foundation, an international organization that supports a wide range of programs that aim to preserve biodiversity, nationally and internationally. Don has had an instrumental role in launching the private lands conservation efforts in Chile and, from now on, he joins the Board of Directors of Tierra Austral to add his experience and commitment with the protection of our ecosystems to the work we do.

Tierra Austral visited Parque La Giganta to explore its potential trails and work collaboratively in generating the necessary infrastructure and measures for its sustainable opening to the community. They ensure the constant preservation of its conservation values. The park is a private conservation initiative located in the Panquehue commune, Valparaíso Region, in the northwest headwaters of the Aconcagua Valley. It serves as a sanctuary for endemic flora and fauna species characteristic of the Mediterranean ecosystem in central Chile, an area considered one of the world's biodiversity hotspots due to its high levels of endemism and the significant threats it faces.

The Assembly of the Local Congress of the State of Sonora in Mexico approved a decree that strengthens conservation areas and creates fiscal and financial instruments to incentivize the establishment of protected areas, incorporating the concept of Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC). Victoria Alonso, Executive Director of Fundación Tierra Austral, and Andrés Pinto, President of the network Así Conserva Chile, were invited to speak at an international seminar due to their roles as prominent organizations with experience in Chile regarding the design and implementation process of DRC agreements that ensure effective nature conservation.

Tierra Austral has signed a commitment to work on the establishment of a Derecho Real de Conservación agreement (DRC)  that will protect over 890 hectares (2200 Acres) in the Mañihuales area of the Aysén Region in perpetuity. The objective of this agreement is to formally safeguard the biodiversity of this region, which serves as a transition zone between two ecosystems (forest and steppe scrubland) and is under threat due to the impacts of climate change and unregulated human activities that fragment ecosystems and contribute to habitat loss.

On Friday, June 3rd, the virtual seminar "Expansion of land divisions in Patagonia: a socio-environmental threat" was held, featuring presentations by Juan Pablo Schuster, a lawyer and doctoral candidate in Geography, and Patricio Pliscoff, a Doctor in Biological Sciences. Both professionals provided their perspectives, addressing the legal and environmental aspects regarding the impacts of the expansion of land divisions in the Chilean Patagonia. The seminar was supported and organized by various institutions and civil society organizations present in the region.

Fundación Tierra Austral and the environmental consultancy Photosintesis led a meeting between the owners and all those who have collaborated as park rangers in the Cerro Poqui sanctuary at the beginning of June. The objective was to create a shared space to define short and medium-term goals and objectives, and to establish guidelines for the development of a sustainable financial management model for this location. Throughout this process, they valued the commitment and support of local organizations in raising awareness within the community about the importance of conservation

Part of the team from Fundación Tierra Austral visited the Torres del Paine commune in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region to learn about the private conservation project being developed at Estancia Cerro Guido. Currently, this project is being carried out as a comprehensive conservation initiative led by the Cerro Guido Conservación Foundation. The main objective is to promote a respectful coexistence between traditional land uses, sustainable tourism, and the conservation of native species that inhabit the area.

Victoria Alonso, Executive Director of Fundación Tierra Austral, spoke at the seminar "Environmental Conservation Instruments" organized by the Chilean Chapter of the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS-Chile). The seminar focused on various environmental conservation instruments. Alonso delved into the foundation's experience with the application of the Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) in Chile as a suitable tool for private conservation.

During a three-day tour, we explored part of the area, which is characterized by the Mediterranean ecosystem and dominated by mountainous landscapes with steep slopes and deep canyons. Among them, the tributaries of the Teno and Claro rivers stand out. The place is a transitional area between different ecosystems of the central and southern regions of the country, which are currently threatened by habitat loss and soil degradation. Species such as the Tricahue parrot, puma, concón, black woodpecker, canelo, lingue, naranjillo, and cypress of the mountain range can be found in this area.

The Tierra Austral team participated in a workshop to update the management plan of the San Juan de Piche Nature Sanctuary, a session led by the consulting firm Tepual Conservación. During this enriching and dynamic event, we collaborated with various stakeholders from the Alhué community, as well as other sanctuaries in the Metropolitan Region and relevant conservation organizations. Through the exchange of experiences, we worked together to outline the best way to protect this place and its significant socio-environmental value.

The first property ever protected by Tierra Austral is the magnificent Valle California landscape, which is located in Palena, Los Lagos Region, in Patagonia. Tierra Austral’s staff has monitoring Valle California for compliance with the Servidumbre Voluntaria agreement every year since 2015.  During 2020 and 2021, Covid pandemic travel restrictions required the staff to complete this monitoring remotely, using satellite images. In March of 2022, the staff had the chance to visit the property for the first time in more than two years.

Two months after the forest fire that consumed 216 hectares of native forest in the Las Damas hill (VI region), we returned to the place with the professor and doctor in Forest Sciences, Marcelo Miranda, representatives of the organization De Quillayquén a Poqui and the Municipality of Coltauco. The objective was to assess the state of the forest and contribute to the discussion on how to restore damaged ecosystems. With enthusiasm we confirmed the resilience of the sclerophyllous forest that is already showing signs of recovery with regrowths of more than 12 different endemic species.

A few weeks ago, Tierra Austral joined with the owners of the El Níspero property to sign an agreement to formally protect this beautiful and ecologically rare landscape. El Níspero is located in the Coastal Mountain Range of the commune of Coltauco, O'Higgins Region. This agreement would protect about 85 hectares with the Derecho Real de Conservación. The property is of particular importance because it is listed as a Priority Site for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Chile’s National Biodiversity Strategy . El Níspero is also significant because its protection would help create landscape connectivity between the Coastal Range and the Andes.

In February, the Tierra Austral team traveled to La Junta in the Cochamó Valley, Los Lagos Region, where it met with the Puelo Patagonia organization to discuss conservation projects and opportunities in this beautiful area. The two NGOs talked about the possibility of protecting priority landscapes, including those threatened by unsustainable development, with Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreements.

On February 16, the IUCN Council approved the admission of Fundación Tierra Austral as one of the 2 new members of South America, out of a total of 19 organizations around the world. From now on, and as an active member of the IUCN, Tierra Austral will join the more than 1400 governmental and non-governmental organizations that contribute to nature conservation and the transition to sustainable development worldwide.

Henry Tepper, Tierra Austral's Strategic Conservation Advisor, has joined with Angelo Salsi, Director of Natural Resources, Climate, Sustainable Blue Economy, and Clean Energy at the European Commission's Life Program, to deliver a series guest lectures to graduate students at European universities. The subject of the lectures is to talk about private lands conservation globally, including the Chilean case with the Derecho Real de Conservación and the BHPF-supported Boldo to Cantillana mediterranean habitat conservation project.

After decades of debate, the Chilean Congress passed tax reform legislation that will create important new incentives for philanthropy in Chile, including for contributions to environmental conservation. Tierra Austral welcomes this tax reform legislation, which it believes will make it easier for private landowners to take action to protect their properties with DRCs and will encourage increased support of environmental conservation.

Tierra Austral visited this place of more than 600 hectares of evergreen forest in Los Lagos Region that will be protected in perpetuity, through the implementation of a Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) There, our team witnessed the richness of endemic flora and fauna that inhabit the park, in addition to the diversity of amphibians that takes refuge in this private conservation initiative that reconciles the protection of nature with sustainable and planned cohabitation. One more step to preserve these ecosystems!

The Boldo Cantillana project protects ecologically significant landscapes composed of Chile's Mediterranean habitat, with the aim of generating a 930,000-hectare landscape corridor that extends from Santiago to Zapallar, connecting the Coastal Range to the Andes Mountains. Between 2019 and 2021, Tierra Austral completed the first phase of this project with the signing of three DRC agreements: two in the O'Higgins Region and one in the Metropolitan Region. During the second phase of the project, the use of this tool in the corridor will be created, replicated, consolidated, and expanded, increasing the protected area.

Through the signing of a new Derecho Real de Conserbación (DRC) in the Águila Sur Ecological Community (Paine, Metropolitan Region) more than 230 hectares of the Mediterranean ecosystem of central Chile will be preserved. Under this DRC, native and endemic species such as the litre, quillay, peumo, canelo and the lingue, will be protected in perpetuity from threats typical of the central area of the country such as deforestation or the advance of agricultural projects.

To end the year, Tierra Austral held an activity with the community of Coltauco, to learn about the biological richness of the sanctuary, and tell them about the conservation project that is being carried out. Through the implementation of a DRC, a management plan was built that will guide the effective and sustainable management of the sanctuary, in order to guarantee its long-term conservation. Thus, access control will be implemented to protect the conservation area; a measure which was positively received by the community, reaffirming the collective commitment to take care of  Poqui.

The event, organized by the International Conservation Network (ILCN) and the European Land Conservation Network (Eurosite-ELCN), brought together professionals and entities dedicated to conservation to highlight the efforts made to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems worldwide. Tierra Austral participated as an exhibitor with the aim of discussing and comparing the different legal tools that are being used to protect private lands, delving into their development process, challenges and achievements, highlighting the Derecho Real de Conservación.

With the establishment of a Derecho Real de Conservación agreement, 70 hectares of critical habitats on the banks of the Futaleufú River, Los Lagos region, will be protected in perpetuity. This new protected area has an important ecological value for the restoration of the ecosystem, highlighting the presence of species in the conservation category such as the Cypress of the Cordillera and animals such as the puma, güiña and the huemul.

The Tierra Austral team visited this valuable private conservation initiative in Porvenir, Magallanes Region, Tierra del Fuego The @pinguinorey team received us and guided us on our tour in which we were able to visit the home of a colony of more than 140 penguins, unique in South America, which found in the reserve a place to nest, feed and grow protected on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. In addition to the conservation of the King Penguin, the reserve is dedicated to the conservation of other endemic species, ecotourism and environmental education.

In the current context of climate crisis, our Executive Director, Victoria Alonso, together with Ricardo Díaz, Head of The Environmental Assessment Department of CONAF, and Carlos Marambio, specialist evaluator of the Environmental Assessment Service, participated in a webinar in which different options were presented to face the loss of forests as one of the main effects of climate change.

that seeks to reconcile the preservation of nature with sustainable habitability. A refuge for amphibians and endemic species, the park is a key place for environmental education and scientific research about ecological restoration. The community of partners of Parque Valle Los Ulmos together with Tierra Austral and the NGO Ranita de Darwin  -who will act as co-owners- committed to establish a Real Right of Conservation (DRC) on 90% of the property that will protect these ecosystems in perpetuity, generating, in addition, the first Frog Sanctuary in the country.

Last Wednesday, October 20, Tierra Austral held the first Forest Fire Prevention Workshop for owners who have properties in the Mediterranean ecosystem of Central Chile. Through the seed capital of the Boldo a Cantillana project -supported by the BHP Foundation- Tierra Austral organized this instance in the Altos de Cantillana Natural Reserve, in the commune of Paine, in which more than 20 owners participated. The day began with talks and trainings by the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), continued with the exchange of experiences between owners and ended with a practical simulation activity where attendees were able apply what they learned.

Fundación Tierra Austral participated as a speaker in the 2021 version of the Land Trust Alliance Rally, an event that brings together non-profit organizations around the world dedicated to the conservation of private lands and the protection of nature through different legal tools. On this occasion, the panel "A Land Trust Grows in Chile: The Tierra Austral Foundation" was led to give an account of our experience developing conservation projects on private lands through the use of the Derecho Real de Conservación. It also important to highlight that Tierra Austral’s staff participated in the technical training workshops of the event, to strength the work carried out by each our specialists.

San Juan de Piche is in the heart of the Cordón de Cantillana, a priority site for the conservation of Chile's biodiversity. With an area of 1,617 hectares, this place has unique ecological attributes due to the variety of its ecosystems, the diversity and endemism of its flora and fauna. Thus, the Robles de Cantillana Corporation -entity in charge of the administration of the Sanctuary- together with Tierra Austral, undertook to establish a Derecho Real de Conservación to protect in perpetuity more than 100 hectares in the area of access to the Sanctuary, creating a new private protected area in the Cordón de Cantillana that will contribute to reduce the risk of affectation of the protected habitat in San Juan de Piche.

Within the framework of the Boldo Cantillana project, supported by the BHP Foundation, Tierra Austral established a new Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreement on La Giganta hill, Panquehue commune, Valparaíso Region. In its role as a Land Trust, Tierra Austral signed as the holder of this conservation agreement that will protect 228 hectares of the property in perpetuity, corresponding to the 94% of the total area of the land. Thus, the establishment of this DRC agreement marks a relevant milestone in the protection of the Mediterranean ecosystem of central Chile, one of the most threatened areas in the country.

Through the use of satellite images obtained from the Landsat and/or Sentinel programs, the remote monitoring methodology allows constant and remote monitoring of each property, complementing field monitoring. Thus, with a time scale between 5 and 15 days, remote monitoring is presented as an opportunity to evaluate remote lands of difficult access or greater extension and, at the same time, makes it possible to raise the necessary alerts early and take measures to face threats or possible violations of the perimeters of the areas under conservation.

In the seventh version of the National Environmental Award, led by Fundación Recyclápolis, the executive director of Fundación Tierra Austral, Victoria Alonso, was invited to be part of the jury in charge of evaluating and choosing the winning projects. The instance seeks to highlight initiatives of the public and private sector that propose innovative solutions for the productive and sustainable development of Chile. There were 12 winning projects out of a total of 85 in competition.

Fundación Reforestemos and Tierra Austral will work together to advance conservation projects on private lands through the implementation of Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreements. The agreement states that Tierra Austral will provide technical support to Reforestemos to protect forest properties with DRC agreements. Both organizations are committed to using best standards and practices in the DRC agreements and all elements of these projects.

Fundación Tierra Austral and the international organization The PEW Charitable Trusts have launched a new educational website to disseminate information about the Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC), and promote best practices for its use. The principal goal of the new website is to raise awareness of the DRC, and to provide practical information about how it can be an attractive, secure and flexible land protection tool for a diverse range of property owners throughout Chile.

View this link www.derechoaconservar.cl to see explanatory videos, important information documents, and stories from landowners about their successful use of the DRC.

Tierra Austral has recently signed three Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) agreements, and signed an MoU on a fourth, protecting critical habitat in several regions of the country. The DRC is the Chilean equivalent of a conservation easement in the US or a conservation covenant in Australia, and is now a part of Chile's Civil Law. The DRC agreements include: the Cerro Poqui property, which is comprised of the rarest, most threatened and least protected habitat in Chile, the Mediterranean habitat of the Central Valley-- this is FTA's highest conservation priority; the Lago Chapo property in northern Patagonia; and the Rio Chico property, located in the Futalefeú River Watershed, also in Patagonia. The MoU will protect the Casa Ecologica landscape, which is also comprised of beautiful Mediterranean habitat. After years of hard work and planning, FTA will now be protecting many more landscapes using the Derecho Real de Conservación. We are grateful to our committed conservation landowners, and to the BHP Foundation for its multi-year support of our work.

The Fundación Tierra Austral collaborated with The PEW Charitable Trusts to host a webinar called “The Derecho Real de Conservación as an Iinstrument for PrivateLland Conservation. Presenters at the webinar included Victoria Alonso, the Executive Director of Tierra Austral, Franco Acchiardo, a Partner at the Grasty Quintana Majlis Law Firm and Henry Tepper, FTA’s Strategic Conservation Advisor, who is also an Instructor in the Sustainability Program at the Harvard University Extension School and Brandeis University.

Several members of Tierra Austral’s staff participated in the Land Trust Alliance Rally, an event organized annually by the Land Trust Alliance, the national service organization for private, non-profit land conservation organizations in the United States. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-day Rally was held virtually. FTA’s Strategic Conservation Advisor Henry Tepper joined several colleagues from the International and European Conservation Networks and the Australian Land Conservation Alliance to make a presentation called “Private Land Conservation Around the World: New Opportunities to Teach and Learn.”

In connection to the publication described above, Tierra Austral and ASÍ Conserva Chile hosted a series of 6 webinars to present the best practices for private lands conservation in Chile. The workshops covered a comprehensive range of topics, including land trust governance and the use of the Derecho Real de Conservación. These workshops were also well-attended, and the FTA team answered the many questions asked by the attendees.

Tierra Austral and ASí Conserva Chile have released an important new publication, “Standards for Private Land Conservation in Chile.” The publication, which was made possible by a grant from the Innova CORO Project, provides detailed and practical information on both the operation of NGO land conservation groups and on all facets of the practice of the Derecho Real de Conservación. Staff from FTA and ASÍ Conserva Chile spoke about the publication at an online workshop that was attended by more than 350 people, including landowners, non-profit organizations, practitioners, and other entities involved in private lands conservation.

You can download the publication here: https://www.estandaresparaconservar.cl/

Fundación Tierra Austral presented its El Boldo to Cantillana project at the International Land Conservation Network Congress (ILCN), organized by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Other members of the Peer Large Landscape Learning Exchange also presented at the webinar, which was organized as a temporary replacement for the in-person Third Annual ILCN Congress.

Fundación Tierra Austral participated in the Online Annual Partners Workshop organized by the BHP Foundation. The workshop was originally scheduled as an in-person meeting to be held in the Amazonian forest in Peru, but, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was rescheduled as three online workshops.

Fundación Tierra Austral participated in the Annual Meeting organized by the Australian Land Conservation Alliance (ALCA), held in Adelaide, Australia. Tierra Austral Board member and consultant Henry Tepper discussed the Boldo-Cantillana project as part of a panel on the BHP Foundation’s Environmental Resilience Program, and he also spoke at an all-day Conservation Finance Workshop.

For the third year in a row, Fundación Tierra Austral helped plan and made a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Chile-California Exchange Program, which was held in October, 2019, in Point Reyes, California, United States. FTA’s Executive Director Diego Tabilo presented the Boldo-Cantillana project at the meeting.

In 2018 and 2019, Tierra Austral participated in a series of meetings of the first Large Landscape Peer Exchange, which has been organized by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy. In September of 2019, in Woodstock, Vermont, United States, FTA Executive President Victoria Alonso and Board member Henry Tepper made a presentation on the Boldo-Cantillana project at the third and last meeting of the Peer Exchange. Other participants in the Exchange included the leaders of the Appalachian Trail and Conservancy (Eastern USA), Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, USA) and the Ruta de los Parques (Patagonia, Chile).

Marking a significant breakthrough for the long-term stewardship of its Derecho Real de Conservación agreements, the Fundación Tierra Austral and the Pro Bono Foundation signed an agreement in which the Foundation made the commitment to provide free legal defense of the Derecho Real de Conservación agreements held by Tierra Austral.

Within the framework of the project Establecimiento de Estándares para Iniciativas de Conservación Privada (ICP), Land Trusts y uso del Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) en Chile, a participatory workshop on the DRC was held, in which the standards proposed where analyzed and the principles and indicators of the law were discussed.

Within the framework of the project Establecimiento de Estándares para Iniciativas de Conservación Privada (ICP), Land Trusts y uso del Derecho Real de Conservación (DRC) en Chile, a presentation on Land Trusts and their function both in Chile and abroad was made. Fundación Tierra Austral took the opportunity to give a presentation, as co-implementer of the CORFO Project and also as current Land Trust in Chile. Additionally, group work was performed in order to analyze and discuss the proposed standards.

Fundación Tierra Austral participated and was fully engaged in the planning of the second Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network: “From Communities to Countries: Visionary Conservation in a Changing World”, held in Santiago in January of 2018. The Congress was particularly exciting for Tierra Austral, because it showcased the globally influential leadership of the Chilean private lands conservation initiative and FTA’s leadership role in this effort. In particular, Tierra Austral had a chance to raise awareness of the Derecho Real de Conservación among conservation professionals from around the world, and in particular from countries that use Civil Law.

Representatives of Fundación Tierra Austral participated in a well-received panel presentation at the national meeting of the Land Trust Alliance in Denver, Colorado, United States. Joining FTA on the panel were several of our closest friends and colleagues, leaders of the long, complex and ultimately successful effort to pass the Derecho Real de Conservación in the Chilean Congress in 2016. The panelists included: Michael Grasty, of the law firm Grasty, Quintana & Majlis, and now the Chair of FTA’s Board of Directors; Roberto Peralta, of the law firm Peralta, Gutiérrez & Asociados, and now a member of FTA’s Board; Victoria Alonso, then the Chair of FTA’s Board and now its Executive Director; FTA Board member and consultant Henry Tepper, Fundación Tierra Austral; Francisco Solís, the Executive Director of the Pew Charitable Trusts program in Chile; and Jim Levitt of the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy and the International Land Conservation Network, who served as Moderator.

Fundación Tierra Austral participated in an event organized by the Pro Bono Foundation. The Foundation invited Tierra Austral to give a lecture at a forum on the “benefits and challenges of the Derecho Real de Conservación”. The presenters were Michael Grasty and Franco Acchiardo, of the law firm Grasty, Quintana & Majlis, engaged in private conservation in Chile for some time now. Henry Tepper, member of the board of Tierra Austral, Martijn Wilder, partner of the law firm Baker & McKenzie Australia, and Carolina Contreras, Executive Director of the Pro Bono Foundation, were also presenters.

Law 20,930, creating the new Derecho Real de Conservación, was enacted by the Government of Chile, upon the unanimous consent of the Congress. The new law, which has been the focus of an eight-year effort by conservation efforts, is widely viewed as a breakthrough for private lands conservation in Chile and beyond.

Fundación Tierra Austral became a member of the Land Trust Alliance, the national service organization for private, non-profit land conservation organizations in the United States.

On May 7th, 2014, by 29 votes in favor, no dissenting votes and no abstentions, the Senate passed private lands conservation enabling legislation, the Derecho Real de Conservación. The next step in the Chilean Congress’s consideration of this law will be an analysis by the Joint Commissions (Congressional Committees) on Constitution and Environment.

The Executive Director of Fundación Tierra Austral Gabriela Franco and board member David Tecklin were invited by the Sonoma Land Trust, a prominent land trust in California in the United States, to learn about its private conservation projects and strategies in the Mediterranean climate of California. Gabriela and David had the opportunity to learn about the Sonoma Land Trust, to visit some of the properties that it has conserved, and to tell the land trust’s leadership about the work of Tierra Austral. While in the US, Gabriela and David also participated in a statewide conference of California land trusts.