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The Valdivian Coastal Reserve is part of an ancient temperate rainforest rising from Chile’s southern coastline. This vast stretch of coastal forest is a remnant of millennia past - when it was connected to the forests of New Zealand and Australia. In fact, some species are more closely related to species from those distant places rather than the Americas. During the last Ice Age, this coastal range served as a freeze-free refuge for a multitude of species found nowhere else on Earth.
Among these unique species are two of the planet’s longest living tree species. Olivillo trees, which can live up to 400 years, survive in large stands only on the western slopes of this range, and alerce trees, which resemble North American giant sequoias, have life spans of up to 4,000 years.
These forests also harbor an incredible wealth of wildlife including one of the world’s largest woodpeckers; the world’s smallest deer; a small tree dwelling marsupial (‘mountain monkey’) considered by scientists to be a "living fossil;" at least 58 bird species; and several rare carnivores, such as the southern river otter.
Successful Conservation
The March 22, 2005 inauguration of the Valdivian Coastal Reserve was a major milestone towards preserving this temperate rainforest. The property where the Valdivian Coastal Reserve now stands was first acquired in late 2003 at public auction following the bankruptcy of a forestry company.
Since then, the Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have been managing the Valdivian Coastal Reserve and working closely with neighboring fishing villages and indigenous communities to maintain traditional land uses and encourage compatible local economic development as part of the Reserve’s overall conservation strategy.
Working with local partners, the Conservancy has achieved numerous conservation successes through preservation of the nearly 150,000 acres protected by the Valdivian Coastal Reserve.
Today, the Reserve is
- A unique nature preserve ensuring the protection of native forests and numerous endemic species. The temperate rainforest of the Valdivian Coastal Range extends for one million acres, but before the creation of the Valdivian Coastal Reserve, less than 2.4% was protected. Today, the Reserve helps protect an additional 12% of this rare temperate rainforest.
The Reserve is protected by numerous, well-qualified personnel committed to its conservation: park guards secure, maintain and inform visitors about the Reserve and a fire brigade is on-hand to put out any local wildfires and protect the forests and neighboring communities. - A stunning natural environment inviting to both tourists and locals. The Conservancy has worked with partners to make the Reserve both accessible and informative to all visitors. Recent additions and upgrades include new trails, signposts, picnic areas, and parking lots.
- A resource for sustainable development projects undertaken by local community groups. A $300,000 fund created by the Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations Development Program is supporting sustainable beekeeping, tea making, fishing, and tree harvesting businesses.
- A research center working to streamline conservation work in the area. The conservation plan for the Reserve—designed by dozens scientists, academics, members of the local communities, government agencies and non-profit organizations—identifies conservation priorities, monitors progress, and recommends strategies for the Reserve’s continued, effective protection. Research methodology and conservation planning were developed according to the Conservancy’s strategies and guidelines.
Looking Ahead
The Conservancy is currently in the process of seeking and selecting a lead conservation partner to participate in the ongoing protection of the Reserve. The partner will be invited to play a prominent role in guiding the stewardship and management of the property in conjunction with the Conservancy and leading global and Chilean conservation organizations. By working with a lead conservation partner towards the transfer of ownership and management of the Valdivian Coastal Reserve to a Chilean organization, the Conservancy and WWF will ensure that this treasure is protected for future generations.
Although 147,500 acres of Valdivian Coastal Range are now in protected status, conservation work continues. It is critical to train and employ a sufficient number of park guards to protect more vulnerable areas of the reserve from illegal poaching of alerce and other valuable trees. Furthermore, each summer a fire brigade must be contracted to be on call, since forest fires could easily turn giant swaths of these ancient forests to ashes. There is also planning for native reforestation of 13,000 acres of the reserve that were clear-cut by the former forestry company or currently harbor non-native eucalyptus trees.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Mark Gadfrey/TNC (Valdivian Coastal Reserve at Sunset); Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC (The Queltehue, or Southern Lapwing); Map © The Nature Conservancy (The Valdivian Coastal Range); Mark Godfrey/TNC (Forest of the Valdivian Coastal Range at sunset); Alfredo Almonacid/TNC (beekeeper).
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