The Route of Parks is a vision for the conservation of Chilean Patagonia spanning 17 national parks and protecting 28 million acres. This scenic route runs 1,700 miles between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn, and it is an economic engine for more than 60 surrounding communities. Its exceptional ecological value comes from the level of endemism and biodiversity of its temperate and subantarctic rainforests, wetlands, ice fields and the most extensive fjord system on the planet. Encompassing one-third of Chile, the route protects the incomparable beauty of "the end of the world". Today more than ever, we know that for human societies to flourish we need healthy ecosystems with their complexity of species, relationships, and processes. In this keynote address, delegates will learn about the territories and communities that are part of this unique region and get a sneak a peek at the opportunities for adventure travel experiences inside The Route of Parks of Chilean Patagonia.
The Park of the Strait of Magellan is the result of a century of community-led initiatives to protect and preserve a place with natural and cultural heritage resources and biodiversity. Located an hour’s drive south of the city of Punta Arenas on a peninsula that cuts four kilometers into the Strait, this small protected area contains coastal natural resources as well as historical sites. Given its proximity to the last road south, it is also a starting point to some of the region’s wildest and most remote spots. It is run by members of the community. The challenge this park currently faces is to define a model that will ensure the healthy development of visitor attractions while strengthening the relationship with its founding community, and encouraging and fostering a shared vision and narrative that will deepen the local social fabric in the context of the 21st century.