Chile Plans Vast New 150,000-Hectare National Park at the "End of the World"

Chile is pressing ahead with plans to create a vast new protected area at what many call the "end of the world." The proposed Cape Froward National Park will span some 150,000 hectares of subantarctic forests, peatlands, and coastline at the southern tip of the Americas — the southernmost point of continental South America.

The region is one of the last great wilderness areas on Earth, home to ancient lenga and coigüe forests, vast peatlands that store enormous amounts of carbon, and a coastline teeming with marine life including sea lions, dolphins, and numerous seabird species. The peatlands alone represent one of the most significant carbon sinks in the Southern Hemisphere.

The park would protect ecosystems that have remained largely untouched for millennia but face growing threats from climate change, logging interests, and potential industrial development. By establishing national park status, Chile would ensure the highest level of legal protection for the area.

Conservation organizations have praised the initiative as a model for protecting both biodiversity and climate-critical ecosystems. The peatlands in the proposed park area are estimated to store millions of tons of carbon that, if disturbed, would contribute significantly to atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

The project aligns with Chile's broader commitment to conservation — the country has been one of Latin America's leaders in establishing protected areas, having designated millions of hectares of national parks in Patagonia in recent years. Cape Froward would add another jewel to Chile's impressive conservation portfolio.