Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: How is this real?
Oh my God.
[00:00:07] Speaker B: I've been saying for years that timing is everything when it comes to wildlife encounters.
Right now, surrounded by playful, peeled black chin dolphins in the Magellan Strait, this sentiment couldn't be more true.
These curious cetaceans are putting on quite a show, diving under our zodiac and surfacing with splashes that sense sprays of icy water across our faces.
Just minutes ago, we were chasing distant whale spouts on the horizon. Now nature has brought us our own private performance.
Looking back towards shore, the lighthouse stands sentinel on the cliff, just as it has for generations. But today, this historic beacon marks more than just safe passage through treacherous waters. It's about to become part of Chile's newest national park.
Being here feels like witnessing history unfold in real time.
This is Cape Forward, where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet and where a new chapter in conservation is being written. The story of this place and the extraordinary efforts to protect it challenges conventional approaches to creating national parks in the 21st century.
Welcome back to Rewildology. I'm Brooke Mitchell and today we're at the very edge of the continent in Punta Arenas, where the road South Queen quite literally ends at a gate marking the boundary of what will soon become one of Chile's newest national parks.
After a pre dawn departure and several hours of driving south from Torres del Paine, we've arrived in Punta Arenas where I'm meeting Gabriela Garrido, a marine biologist and Project Corps coordinator for Rewilding Chile.
Born and raised in Puerta Arenas, Gabby isn't just helping create a new national park, she's helping reshape the future of her hometown. I hop into her truck and we start the almost hour long drive to the entrance of the soon to be Cape Forward National Park. Along the way, Gabby teaches me about the area.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: There's clearly a lot of European influence on Punta Arena.
[00:02:51] Speaker B: So was it like a mixture of.
[00:02:53] Speaker A: Europeans that came or was it like.
[00:02:56] Speaker C: Mostly Swiss or mostly Croatians?
[00:03:02] Speaker D: British, Spanish a little bit, but mostly Croatian and British. And from Chile, people from Chiloe. But the British were the ones that developed all the first big colonies.
[00:03:24] Speaker B: Puta Arenas, situated along the Magellan Strait, has been a crucial crossroads for centuries. Before the Panama Canal, every ship traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific had to pass through these waters. The British East India Company, commercial steamships, explorers and traders, they all stopped here.
[00:03:47] Speaker D: From 1850 until 1890, all the steam navigation was very important through the Magillan Straight. It was not built in the Panama Channel, so all the transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific was from it here.
So was a strategic point. And that provided all the ships with forest. They were steamboats. The main transit was from Liverpool to Valparaiso.
[00:04:28] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:04:29] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:04:30] Speaker D: So here the main activities were the farming. The sheep farming industry run mainly by the British. And they produced all type of products from meat until used canned liver, Everything that got exported to England until 1915.
[00:04:58] Speaker B: And then started to decrease, driving away from the city. Gabby explains the history of Agua Fresca. The area began with just a few houses and was once a cooperative farmland. From the 1930s until the 1960s the history runs deep. Croatian immigrants, British traders, workers from the island of Chiloe, all drawn by the promise of sheep farming and the strategic importance of the strait.
[00:05:27] Speaker D: This area, it's called Aguan Fresca, it started with just a couple of houses.
In the past it was cooperative, like.
[00:05:38] Speaker C: A group of farmland.
[00:05:41] Speaker B: Oh, okay.
[00:05:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:42] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:05:44] Speaker D: Impulse by the government, like online. I'm talking about the. From the 30s until the 60s and then they spread and they started to sell. And now from the past five years.
[00:06:00] Speaker A: It has grown so all these little plots.
[00:06:04] Speaker D: This is one of the main stancias that were here.
This was actually a hotel like from the 1905.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: Wow. Established so like 120 years ago.
[00:06:25] Speaker D: By the Swiss.
[00:06:29] Speaker B: But today we're not here for the past, we're here for the future.
This location in particular is significant within the root of parks of Patagonia vision. While most of the existing 17 parks in the route protect inland mountains, glaciers or forests, Cape Forward will fill a critical gap by preserving the southern coastal transition zone where the continent meets the sea. It will serve as the southernmost anchor in this 1700 mile conservation corridor, completing the protection of ecosystems from the temperate rainforests of Pumalin in the north to these windswept southern shores where two oceans converge.
So how did the idea of this.
[00:07:11] Speaker A: Park come to be?
[00:07:13] Speaker D: It's the last distribution area of the Walrus and one point, but also contains a very particular ecosystem that has not been represented on area on other national parks. So it's important on that matter too. But also it is a project that has a very social aspect.
It will bring Puntarenas very strong development opportunity around conservation of an area to move local economy. And also this territory are claimed by the indigenous community that's called the Tawescar.
[00:08:13] Speaker B: Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Kate Forward's creation lies in its relationship with indigenous communities. The Kalaskar people have lived in this region for thousands of years, developing sophisticated ways of life adapted to These marine environments, now they have the opportunity to be a part of the park's future through co administration agreements.
[00:08:36] Speaker D: We have four native nations here. You have the Sanyams, Yagan Car and the Welches.
So the Oscar are one of them. They were nomads that moved through the channels and you still have people. They're not that much, but they are, well part of them. You have 17 communities, they are group around families and some of them are all about development and they work with the salmon fishing industry, but others are for the conservation of Patagonia. All this existence. So you have both worlds, but this park in particular, which I love and that's my very goal to really connect them because for all the communities with.
[00:09:38] Speaker C: A different thinking, this represents a good.
[00:09:42] Speaker D: Opportunity for them to develop. Because from this point to the south until the end of the of the road where the park will start, you have concessions, but only for them. Kawaskar communities.
So they are actually the closest neighbors of the park.
[00:10:09] Speaker A: So like would they. So it sounds like they might be open to hosting tourists and giving cultural activities and stuff because.
[00:10:20] Speaker D: Yes, because everywhere there are very relicted community and poor.
So this presents economical development. And also here in Chile you have the possibility for them to ask for the co administration of the park.
[00:10:45] Speaker B: Oh cool.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: So they'd actually had.
[00:10:47] Speaker D: That's more interesting too.
[00:10:49] Speaker A: Yeah, so they could actually be a part of the decision making of the park. Wow, that is incredible.
[00:10:57] Speaker B: As we reach the end of the road, Gabby points to what looks like an ordinary trailhead, telling me with obvious pride that this will be the entrance to Cape Forward National Park. We're here.
[00:11:09] Speaker E: Yes.
[00:11:10] Speaker D: Oh my gosh.
[00:11:11] Speaker C: This is the end of the road.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: Literally.
[00:11:13] Speaker B: There is a gate.
[00:11:15] Speaker D: Yes, we have to walk.
[00:11:22] Speaker B: The moment we step onto the beach, I understand why this place is so special.
To our left, the Magellan Strait stretches towards the Pacific. To our right it reaches toward the Atlantic. Directly ahead, waves crash against the shoreline where these two great oceans meet. Above us, black browed albatrosses soar on the legendary winds of Patagonia, while pairs of kelp geese, the males bright white, the females camouflage and deep brown, patrol the tideline.
[00:11:55] Speaker A: I love all the shells and all.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: Of the rocks because even here there's so much to see.
[00:12:02] Speaker F: The algae and all these plants, all the birds.
I can only imagine what it's like underwater.
[00:12:11] Speaker B: The collision of two oceans has created something extraordinary. A living laboratory where marine and terrestrial ecosystems blend together in ways that scientists are still trying to understand.
[00:12:25] Speaker G: There are regular scientific expeditions.
You recognize the whole Area postal area. The foundation recently hired a marine program director.
So there's a big compromise to getting to that line and not also nearing Himagayanes, but through the whole route of the park to get people to understand that everything is connected.
If you protect even just with kelp forest line a couple hundred meters, it is very important to go is on this transition from the kelp forest to this forest where you have the most diversity species.
It's called the echoprene.
So that's environmental concept that it hasn't been really recognized by the authorities.
So we're unfortunately that.
[00:13:44] Speaker B: Soon this remarkable convergence of land and sea will become one of the newest additions to Chile's route of parks of Patagonia.
Creating a national park isn't as simple as drawing lines on a map. It's a complex dance of ecology, politics and community relations.
After a two and a half mile trek across rocky beach terrain, we arrive at a run down estate. The building's former grandeur still shines through the weathered walls and chipped paint. Gabby tells us that this home will more than likely become the headquarters of the new park after it's been restored. We grab our lunches from our packs and take a seat on the weather fated terrace. Gabby pulls out a map and tells us the story behind Capeforward.
She explains that the foundation acquired this land at the end of 2021, some 93,492 hectares. But that was just the beginning. What started as an ambitious conservation project has grown even bigger. Just last week, news so recent that the government hadn't even been informed yet. On the date we recorded this conversation, Rewilding Chile purchased another 34,000 hectares.
[00:15:06] Speaker C: So the project started with the acquisition of this land, which is in orange. The foundation got to buy this land by the end of 2022, November. I don't know if in acres, but this is 93, 492 hectares. So with that land, what happened is that on March this year they proposed the president to donate this and the government will give this area in yellow and this area that. Actually now they are fiscal protected areas.
Yes, patrimonial areas. They're not managed by the Forestry Service, but they are protected.
And the government said yes. Okay. And that is what it's going to be part of the plan. New news. But the foundation just bought this land last week.
[00:16:13] Speaker F: Last week. Oh my gosh.
[00:16:16] Speaker C: We are going to also integrate to this donation.
[00:16:20] Speaker F: So almost another 34,000 hectares right there. Right?
[00:16:25] Speaker H: Wow.
[00:16:25] Speaker C: Yeah. And this is the future one.
We're going for that one next.
So this whole area will be around 250,000 national park.
And we're here.
[00:16:46] Speaker H: Wow.
[00:16:47] Speaker F: So this is barely even touching the surface of what this is going to be.
[00:16:52] Speaker C: Yes. Wow. This is 5km.
[00:16:56] Speaker F: 5Km was 250,000 hectares.
[00:17:00] Speaker B: Yes, but the numbers only tell part of the story. Kforward represents a revolutionary approach to conservation in Chile. Rewilding Chile is actively preparing this land to be donated to the government. The same model used successfully with other parks along the route of parks. Unlike traditional protection, which often focuses on single ecosystems, this park will protect the crucial transition zone where Patagonia's mountains meet the sea, creating a continuous chain of life from mountaintop to sea floor.
This approach acknowledges what indigenous communities have always known. In nature there are no boundaries between land and sea.
[00:17:47] Speaker C: There was the plan to get marine protected area associated with the terrestrial part, but the president at that time say no.
Why not? Because the political moment right now in Magallanes is not really in favor of it. For the past two years there has been a big conflict between salmon industry and protected areas in general. There's another conflict. Well, all the pandemic.
So there's a social aspect. And also the artisanal fishermen are not really up to it because they say it intervenes with their liberty to fish anywhere.
That is partly true, but they are very linked to the salmon farming industry because they provide services when they are not fishing. On efficiencies in terms of terrestrial establishment of this new park, there's a very positive idea of it, so should be very fast. But we are still doing research on all this area, mainly associated to the kelp forest and blues carbon sequestration from the CO2.
Yes, doing that type of research, biodiversity and other aspects. Because we are going to insist on that. But not for now.
First, the terrestrial park.
[00:19:37] Speaker B: The process of transforming private land into a national park requires material, meticulous preparation. Rewilding Chile's team is mapping habitats, documenting wildlife, developing trail systems and planning essential infrastructure that will eventually serve park visitors while minimizing ecological impact.
This multi year endeavor follows the successful model used throughout the route of parks, where private conservation initiatives ultimately become permanent public protected areas.
[00:20:10] Speaker C: The process of creating a park has different community aspects. So they have to do an indigenous consult first and then citizen open consult and then deplete the park. So that is a long process. It will take around three months and then. So we're hoping to have the park by the end of this year. Our first plan was to have the park by March 2026. By the end of this government period. But this government wants to do it quicker. It's a good idea, It's a good thing.
But that put us on a position that that we are going to be working inside the park in order to develop all the infrastructure. Because the compromise of the foundation is to donate a completely functional park, not only the land. We are also going to invest into making better trails from here, what we just did, but also to all the way to Cape Fr, which is a very difficult now trekking.
So we'll take you to do this from where we started to Cape Fr. And back five days.
[00:21:41] Speaker H: Wow.
[00:21:42] Speaker C: If you're fast.
So developing also camping areas, rangers, stations, an entrance, interpretative center, all of that. So we're going to be working the next two years on that too, after the park is already accepted.
[00:22:07] Speaker F: How exciting.
[00:22:10] Speaker B: Watching the birth of a park.
The lighthouse ahead of us symbolizes not just safe passage through dangerous waters, but a beacon of hope for a new kind of relationship between humans and the wild places we depend on.
As Gabby leads us toward the historic structure, we're about to discover how the terrestrial protection we've been discussing connects to an even greater challenge. The conservation of the marine world that surrounds us.
[00:22:49] Speaker D: Oh my gosh.
[00:22:50] Speaker B: We've arrived at the lighthouse and I'm blown away by what I see.
Back in town, Gabby and other artists turned an old slaughterhouse into a beautiful museum detailing the history of the region.
Here, they're turning this old weathered building into a museum showing the region's role in the whaling industry.
They even have a fully intact humpback whale skeleton lying in the middle of the room, waiting to be hung from the ceiling. Once the rafters are strong enough to bear the massive frame, we wander room after room, marveling at ship reconstructions from indigenous and European sailors, sculptures of people from the past who had an impact on developing the region, and photo after photo showing the evolution and collapse of the whaling industry in the Magellan Strait.
I reached the back of the half restored building and climbed the narrow winding staircase to the lighthouse's lantern room. Overlooking the entire Magellan Strait. The connection between land and sea becomes impossible to ignore. Below us, a kelp forest sways in clear waters of the strait. These underwater forests serve as crucial carbon sinks in nurseries for marine life.
Chile has already taken bold steps in marine conservation. The country has protected over 43% of its exclusive economic zone, an area of approximately 1.5 million square kilometers, making it one of the world leaders in marine protection.
In 2023, Chile reorganized its protected Areas system through the creation of sbap, which stands for Biodiversity and Protected Area Service, bringing marine and terrestrial protection under the same administrative umbrella. Recognizing that these ecosystems don't exist in isolation with land affecting sea and vice versa, the massive Juan Fernandez and Nazca des Venturadas marine parks demonstrate Chile's commitment to ocean conservation. But most of these protected areas are far offshore rather than along the coastal areas where human activities and ecosystems most intensively interact.
Yet with all of these winds, significant challenges remain. The salmon farming industry, Chile's second largest export sector, providing thousands of jobs and economic stability to many communities, is looking to expand southward from its established operations at Chillaway.
While economically vital, intensive salmon aquaculture brings environmental challenges including nutrient pollution, antibiotic use and escaped fish competing with native species. This this creates a complex balance act between economic development and ecosystem health. The pressure on marine resources is intense and finding common ground between conservation and industry requires thoughtful planning.
Despite these challenges, there's reason for hope rewilding Chile recently hired its first marine program director, signaling a serious commitment to ocean conservation.
The vision to connect and protect the rich ecosystems along Chile's southern coast. Increasing Chile and Patagonia's marine protected areas from 1% to 10%.
[00:26:33] Speaker C: This is a whole route of the parks that the foundation has been creating. And so the projection also is to now start also focusing on the marine conservation aspect. So we're thinking it's the same national parks route, but now with marine national parks route that could be connecting the whole ecosystems of southern Chile.
[00:27:09] Speaker B: As if to underscore the importance of marine protection, our return journey provides an unexpected encounter.
First, we spot whale spouts in the distance. Then, as we're tracking them, a pod of dolphins appears, turning our zodiac ride into an impromptu wildlife watching expedition.
Watching these dolphins plight in waters that have carried ships for centuries, I'm struck by the deeper significance of this moment. The Magellan Strait has long been a highway for human ambition. But it's also a vital artery of life, where nutrients and creatures flow between two oceans, sustaining everything from microscopic krill to the great whales we glimpsed earlier.
Protecting these waters means preserving one of Earth's great ecological crossroads.
As the sun sets over Punta Arenas, painting the Magellan Strait in shades of gold, I reflect on the layers of history in this landscape. For centuries, this strait has been a beacon of human ambition. A crucial shipping route, a source of wealth from whaling and fishing, a gateway to Antarctica.
Now, with the creation of Cape Florida national park, we're writing a new chapter in that story. One that recognizes the inseparable connection between land and sea, between human communities and natural ecosystems.
The challenges ahead remain significant. Balancing conservation with local livelihoods, protecting marine ecosystems in the face of industrial pressure, ensuring that indigenous communities benefit from and help guide conservation efforts.
But watching Gabby work, seeing her move seamlessly between scientific discussions about kelp forests and sensitive negotiations with local communities, I'm reminded of how conservation in the 21st century encompasses more than pristine wilderness preservation.
Conservation today reimagines our relationship with nature in ways that benefit both human communities and wildlife.
Next time on rewildology, we'll move north to Chile's Lake District to explore the often overlooked wetland ecosystems that form the northern gateway to the root of parks. We'll join the dedicated team at Fundacion Lagada, Chile in their quest to protect the endangered river otter and discover why these critical wetlands may hold the key to Chile's environmental future. It's a story of conservation happening not in remote wilderness, but right where people and nature intersect every day.
Until then, I'm Brooke Mitchell and this has been another adventure on the rooted parks of Patagonia.
[00:30:28] Speaker E: I want to invite you to become part of something bigger than just this podcast. This series is actually one pillar of a larger initiative called rewildology's Project Patagonia, where conservation truly meets adventure. Project Patagonia is built on three elements Listen, experience, and protect. You're already participating in the first pillar by listening to this podcast series, but.
[00:30:54] Speaker B: If you're inspired to go deeper, you.
[00:30:57] Speaker E: Can join us in the field for the second pillar experience.
In April 2026, I'll be leading a small group of just 10 people on an unforgettable expedition to trek Pumas and explore the majestic mountains of Torres del Paine National Park.
This intimate adventure includes expert led Puma tracking, meetings with conservation researchers, hiking through breathtaking landscapes, and even kayaking to the magnificent Great Glacier. You'll literally follow in the footsteps of the stories you're hearing in this podcast.
The third pillar, protect, is where your passion can translate into direct conservation impact.
[00:31:40] Speaker B: Through our partnership with Panthera, the global.
[00:31:43] Speaker E: Wild cat conservation organization, your support helps fund crucial work to protect pumas and their habitats throughout Patagonia. Your donations help bridge divides between fragmented habitats, develop solutions for human wildlife conflict, implement wildlife corridors, and support cutting edge research.
Whether you choose to listen to this series, join our expedition, make a donation, or all three, you become part of a community dedicated to preserving one of Earth's most spectacular regions.
To learn more about Project Patagonia and how you can get involved, visit rebotology.com Project Patagonia. Together we can ensure that the root of parks of Patagonia continues to thrive for generations to come.
