Hello Friends,
I’m writing to confirm some news you have likely already heard about! Two days ago, I stood alongside the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet and key Ministers to sign a protocol agreement outlining our shared commitment to create 11 million acres of new national parklands here in Chile.
The Tompkins Conservation organizations have committed to donate over one million acres, including Patagonia Park and Pumalín Park with all of their respective public access infrastructure, to Chile’s national park system. In accepting the gift, the Chilean government pledged to commit an additional 10 million acres of new parklands to the package, which includes upgrading some existing reserves to national park status. In total the agreement will create five new national parks and expand three existing parks, adding an area more than three times the size of Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks combined to Chile’s national park system.
Photo: In a ceremony in Chile's Pumalín Park, American conservationist Kris Tompkins (left) and Chilean president Michelle Bachellet announced on the historic expansion of Chile's national parkland by 10 million acres.
Photographer: Jimmy Chin
