He Government of Chile announced, through a press release, the future creation of a National Park which will be located in the town of Cabo Froward, in the Magallanes region and close to the commune of Punta Arenaswhich will make it the southernmost of the entire American continent.
Los land where will rise this immense chilean nature reserve which will have an area of 93,000 hectares were donated by American conservationist, Chile, Kristine Tompkinswho also created and presides over the Rewilding Foundation of the trans-Andean country.
The donation of the land by the widow of the American environmental philanthropist Douglas Tompkins includes the commitment of the Chilean State to reclassify two national protected lands-one of 24,124 hectares located on the banks of the batchelor riverand, another, of 9,888 hectares, also located in Cabo Forward-, where they are conserved and shelter species such as the huemul or southern Andean deer, and whose access is made exclusively by sea.
“Through this action, we seek to promote the joint management of the conservation of a valuable ecosystembetween the State, the communities and civil society, through the technical assistance of the Rewilding Chile Foundation,” the statement said.
Cape Froward, southern paradise
covered in a 48% of its surface by very rich subantarctic forests where the Magellan coihue, the cinnamon tree, and the Guaitecas cypress stand out, among many other species. and in a 11% by ancient peat bogsCape Froward is the southernmost point of the american continentthe last lands before it plunges into the Strait of Magellan.
Besides, It houses the southernmost population of the huemul and also the red canquén, both species that, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are focused on Danger of extinction
Both its forests and its rich soil absorb 521 tons of carbon per hectarewhile along its 40 kilometers of coastline, marine life is abundant and diverse, as a result of the numerous nutrients provided by the confluence of the Antarctic, Pacific and Atlantic currents.
In addition to sei and humpback whales that furrow its coasts covered by dense forests of algae, in its crystalline waters also inhabit the southern dolphin and the Magellanic penguin, among many others.