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Reduced Staff and Lack of Resources Strain Maintenance of Pumalín Park, Donated by Tompkins

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"Our national parks are among the most spectacular in the world. But as long as inefficiency and poor judgment reign among their administrators, we will never reach the podium," complained Sabine Russek in a letter to "El Mercurio" this week. She protested because during her visit to Parque Pumalín Douglas Tompkins on December 13 of last year, campgrounds and some trails were closed.

She also raised concerns about the park's condition and whether it maintains the same standards as when it was managed by the Tompkins Conservation foundation, now Rewilding Chile.

After the billionaire's passing, his wife Kristine McDivitt donated 407,625 hectares to the Chilean government in April 2019 for the creation of parks, most of which are now managed by Conaf.

The Regional Directorate of Conaf in Los Lagos has an annual budget of around $350 million for the 12 parks in the area.

"We don’t have many resources, but we know how to manage what we have very well, and it’s enough to maintain the infrastructure. We have risen to the occasion, maintaining the high standard," said Regional Director Miguel Leiva. He confirmed that the camping season did indeed open later due to maintenance delays caused by rain.

The president of the Programa Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia, Raffaele Di Biase, explains that the park clearly does not have the same quality controls as before, and "you can’t do conservation with 24% of the budget," emphasized Carolina Morgado, director of Rewilding Chile.

According to a study by University of Cambridge professor Anthony Waldron, Chile should invest $6 per hectare. The foundation’s director explained that "in countries like the United States, every dollar invested in a national park’s infrastructure generates between $6 and $10 in return."

Víctor Lagos, ASP manager of Conaf, acknowledged that "it has become necessary to innovate in how we manage resources, whether in infrastructure or ourselves, with conservation and tourism areas."

In this regard, Conaf called for tenders to concession the restaurant, cabins, and one of the seven camping areas. The concession was awarded to Yerko Ivelic. "Tompkins’ donation to the state was impeccable; everything was in perfect condition. They handed us everything ready to operate," said the owner of Lodge Caleta Gonzalo.

Another measure Conaf took was retaining administrator Erwin González and other team members. Additionally, they developed a territorial management plan for biodiversity conservation. "I feel at ease. With the resources we manage, we’ve been able to maintain the standard Tompkins handed over. When we’ve closed, it’s been for maintenance," stated Conaf’s Regional Director Miguel Leiva.

To prevent further delays in the camping season opening, Ivelic says, "there should be a tender for someone to take charge. Conaf does conservation, not tourism or maintaining campgrounds." His campground, the only one of the park’s seven that is concessioned, has remained open.

Source:El Mercurio