Foto: Valentina Thenoux para Rewilding Chile
Tompkins Conservation, Rewilding Chile, and Conaf inaugurated an innovative visitor center in Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park
Through an interactive experience, this space will allow visitors to learn about the history and ecological attributes of this park located in the Lakes Region.
This center is part of the donation made by Tompkins Conservation to the State of Chile and is administered by Conaf.
The new Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park Visitor Centre is located in Caleta Gonzalo, where the immensity of the Valdivian Rainforest meets the sea. The center was inaugurated in the presence of the Governor of the Los Lagos Region, Patricio Vallespín; the Presidential Delegate of the Palena Province, Luis Montaña; the National Director of Conaf, Cristián Little; the President of Tompkins Conservation, Kristine Tompkins; and the Executive Director of Rewilding Chile, Carolina Morgado, among other authorities and members of the community.
“Each space has been carefully designed to offer a unique and immersive experience, combining scenographic elements, technology, and storytelling to create an environment that inspires, educates, and calls us to be the guardians of nature. This initiative is part of the continued support that Fundación Rewilding Chile and Tompkins Conservation have provided to the State of Chile following the large land donation that allowed for the creation of this national park,” says Carolina Morgado, Executive Director of Fundación Rewilding Chile.
"Each space has been carefully designed to offer a unique and immersive experience, combining scenographic elements, technology, and storytelling to create an environment that inspires, educates, and calls us to be the guardians of nature. This initiative is part of the continued support that Fundación Rewilding Chile and Tompkins Conservation have provided to the State of Chile following the large land donation that allowed for the creation of this national park,"
The new visitor center has six exhibition halls that celebrate the beauty of this park and a modern solar energy system, allowing lighting, multimedia supports, air conditioning, renewable energies, power multimedia supports, and air conditioning.
Reception: This first space welcomes visitors and prepares them for the experience. It features symbolic elements of the park, such as a cutout from an alerce tree, one of the oldest tree species on the planet, and a model airplane recalling the legacy of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins as the driving force behind this protected area.
The History of Pumalín Park: In this room, visitors will begin their journey through the history of the park’s creation and the occupation of the territory up to the present day.
The Valdivian Rainforest: Visitors will be immersed in the richness of the Valdivian Rainforest,
discovering its inhabitants and its ecological importance. From imposing trees to
fascinating creatures, this room offers a unique insight into one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
The Sea of Chiloé: this room invites visitors to explore the fascinating world of Chiloé’s
fascinating world of the Chiloé Ecoregion. With tidal sounds and the presence of marine species, visitors will discover the beauty and fragility of the oceans.
The Patagonia Parks Route: This room presents an interactive map of Chile, highlighting the importance of the Parks Route in the conservation of natural heritage and the well-being of local communities. For more information, visitors can explore each park through images, descriptions, and QR codes.
The Spirit of Pumalín: As the final stage of the experience, visitors will gather around a virtual fire to listen to an ancestral story that connects the park with its past and future and reveals the secret of who is the true guardian of the forest.
At the opening, Kristine Tompkins noted that “the Visitor Centre seeks to convey the memories of the park, the passions, and work that have shaped it, as well as the experiences that await those who venture onto its trails. This space will serve as a powerful message that nature and we are one and that we must act accordingly”.
On the other hand, concerning the regional contribution generated by this new infrastructure in Caleta Gonzalo, the Regional Governor of Los Lagos, Patricio Vallespin, underlines that: “We have a pact for a sustainable and inclusive region, where the issue of conservation appears as one of its axes, and parks play a key role, this is an example of what Pumalin has been, public-private cooperation, which went from mistrust to trust and common action with shared objectives. This park is an example of how we moved from the individual I to the community by taking ownership of this national park that Tompkins Conservation donates, which allows this to be available to the world“.
The National Director of Conaf, Cristian Little, said: “Public-private collaboration is essential to promote the development of the territories. The donation of this information center by Tompkins Conservation and Rewilding Chile fosters the link with biodiversity and invites the community to connect with it, strengthening the message that nature is within each of us; this leads us to reflect on the importance of conserving ecosystems”.
One of the aspects highlighted by the director of CONAF Región de Los Lagos, Miguel Leiva Faúndez is that “for us as a region, the inauguration of this Visitor Centre in the Douglas Tompkins Pumalin National Park is significant, as it gives value to all the rich biodiversity and nature that the place has. It will greatly contribute to the park and be a tremendous visitor attraction. We are grateful for all the support and permanent help of the Rewilding Chile Foundation and Tompkins Conservation”.
Officially created in 2018, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park has an area of 402,392 hectares, of which Tompkins Conservation and 109,054 hectares donated 293,338 hectares, which the State of Chile contributed.