MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean eco-tourism expands creating conservation zone in Patagonia

The conservation project includes protection of Chile’s national animal, the huemul

Chile’s largest Eco-Tourism firms, Nomads, plans to develop new tour routes after acquiring 22.000 hectares of un-spoiled land in southern Chile. The company hopes to create a conservation zone to protect various protected species living in the area.

The Lago Caballero site in Region XII (Chilean Patagonia) is home to the most southerly population of the huemul, an endangered deer species. Humpback whales, sea lions and penguins also abound in the ocean waters in the area.

Nomads, a leading sustainable tourism company in Chile operates adventure sports tours and cruises around Chilean Patagonia. Travellers’ pay huge sums for a ticket on their exclusive tours of the countries coastal fjords.

Nomads is currently outlining its plans for the site with environmental consultants Chileambiente.

“They (Nomads) want to develop a conservation project for the huemuls” said Chileambiente Director Patricio Rodrigo.

The company will also show environmentalists around the area this summer and ask their help in establishing a protection plan for the huemuls.

The Patagonian Huemul, also known as the South Andean deer, has been on the endangered list since 1976. It is Chile’s national animal, but its habitats have become increasingly under threat from deforestation and encroachment by the human species.

By James Fowler - Santiago Times