Chile – Cochamó Valley
Land Conservation
PROTECTING CHILEAN PATAGONIA’S COCHAMÓ VALLEY
Known for its granite domes, ancient forests, pristine watersheds, and abundant biodiversity, Cochamó Valley is a remote region of the Andes Mountains in Chilean Patagonia.
Nicknamed the “Yosemite of South America,” the Cochamó Valley encompasses hundreds of thousands of hectares of temperate rainforest that sequester carbon and provide critical habitat for endemic and endangered species. Since 2022, Freyja has been involved in securing the valley’s long-term future – ensuring the region’s wildlife, communities, and ecosystems can thrive for generations to come.
Some of the oldest trees in the world are found in and around the Cochamó Valley. Ancient alerce trees in the region are estimated to be up to 5,000 years old.
TAKING INITIATIVE TO INSPIRE ACTION
In 2023, Freyja purchased a critical 309-hectare property in the Cochamó Valley. This decisive action, taken in collaboration with local partners Puelo Patagonia and Organización Valle Cochamó, safeguarded an important swath of Valdivian rainforest and a key access point for the tens of thousands of visitors who explore the valley each year.
Recognizing the potential threats posed by land subdivision and irresponsible development, Freyja became the first conservation organization to take this type of direct action in Cochamó through a strategic acquisition. The seller had planned to fragment the land into private parcels, raising concerns among conservationists and local NGOs who have long championed a community-driven approach to managing tourism and protecting this natural and cultural treasure. Freyja is now in the process of securing a derecho real de conservación for the property, a powerful conservation tool that empowers private landowners in Chile to become long-term stewards of their land.
CREATING ONE OF LATIN AMERICA’S LARGEST CONSERVATION CORRIDORS
In 2024, building on the momentum of our land purchase, Freyja joined forces with local and global partners to protect the Cochamó region in its entirety. Teaming up with Puelo Patagonia, The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia Inc., and the Wyss Foundation, we launched Conserva Puchegüín – a campaign aiming to acquire and protect Fundo Puchegüín, a 132,995-hectare private property in the heart of Cochamó.
After an unprecedented local and international fundraising
effort, the alliance reached its goal in December 2025. We finalized the purchase of Puchegüín,
securing a vast mosaic of ecosystems – from ancient alerce forests to pristine lakes and vibrant
wetlands. The property now anchors a conservation corridor connecting more than 1.6 million
hectares of protected areas across Chile and Argentina, providing refuge for species such as
Darwin’s frog, huemul, and monito del monte. Beyond this, Puchegüín is home to communities whose
way of life is intricately woven into the land’s fabric, and the purchase helps ensure their
traditions can continue for generations to come.
Alongside the property purchase, the alliance established
Fundación Conserva Puchegüín, a Chilean nonprofit now responsible for the property’s
long-term protection. As a member organization alongside Puelo Patagonia and The Nature
Conservancy Chile, Freyja will help guide the region’s stewardship in the years ahead,
guided by a governance model shaped with local communities and grounded in strong
conservation standards.
Explore Fundación Conserva Puchegüín and help us protect the “Yosemite of South America”
Learn more about the foundation’s mission to protect Cochamó Valley and Chilean Patagonia for generations to come.
EXPLORE MORE HERE
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