Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO215
2009-03-06 18:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE'S NATIONAL PARKS LACK INFRASTRUCTURE, AMERICAN HELPS

Tags:  ECON ENVR EAID EAGR ETRD TBIO CI 
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VZCZCXRO2564
PP RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0215/01 0651851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061851Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4591
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2207
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000215 

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/ENV

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENVR EAID EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO CI
SUBJECT: CHILE'S NATIONAL PARKS LACK INFRASTRUCTURE, AMERICAN HELPS
RESTORE ENVIRONMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000215

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND OES/ENV

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENVR EAID EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO CI
SUBJECT: CHILE'S NATIONAL PARKS LACK INFRASTRUCTURE, AMERICAN HELPS
RESTORE ENVIRONMENT


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador recently met with Chile's National
Tourism Service (SERNATUR) and National Forestry Commission (CONAF)
to provide feedback on his January trip to Chilean Patagonia. He
inquired about resources for improving the infrastructure in Torres
del Paine National Park, one of Chile's largest and most famous
tourist attractions. The meetings were arranged in response to a
specific request from the Director of Torres del Paine. Both
agencies were sympathetic and concerned about the lack of resources
for park infrastructure throughout Chile. They also lauded efforts
by Americans Doug and Kris Tompkins, to protect and restore
sensitive areas in Patagonia. End summary.

BACKGROUND: Ambassador Visits Chile's Patagonia
-------------- ---


2. (SBU) During the Ambassador's late January visit to Torres del
Paine National Park, the park rangers demonstrated improved English,
there were new information brochures, and the park staff exhibited a
professionalism exemplified during the coordinated rescue of an
injured Canadian hiker. However, the park's facilities and
infrastructure were in poor condition. The Ambassador reconnected
with the park's director, Jose Linnebrink, who emphasized the lack
of resources for park infrastructure and requested that the
Ambassador raise the topic with appropriate officials in Santiago.



3. (SBU) The Ambassador also visited U.S. environmentalist couple,
Doug Tompkins and Kris McDivitt Tompkins. Tompkins founded The
North Face and Esprit and his wife is the former CEO of the clothing
company Patagonia. The couple hosted the Ambassador at Valle
Chacabuco, near Cochran. They own significant tracts of land at
both Pumalin (near Chaiten volcano and currently inaccessible to the
public) and Chacabuco. The Tompkins are working to turn over-grazed
land into parks by restoring the natural environment and investing
significantly in the infrastructure. They plan to turn the land
back over to Chile, but feel the National Park system is currently

incapable of protecting and maintaining the areas, in part because
of insufficient resources. End background.

SERNATUR: SERNATUR Confirms Resources Needed
--------------


4. (SBU) The Ambassador followed his trip with a February 9 meeting
with Oscar Santelices, Director of SERNATUR; accompanied by ESTHoff
and EPoloff. The Ambassador drew a contrast between the prominent
role Torres del Paine plays in attracting tourists and its
inadequate infrastructure. Santelices explained SERNATUR is under
the Ministry of Interior while CONAF is under the Ministry of
Agriculture, making them subject to different laws. He stressed the
lack of resources was due in part to legal reasons -- by law, park
fees collected must be pooled and distributed among all parks.


5. (SBU) Santelices noted that CONAF has historically leaned towards
conservation over tourism. He commented that there are efforts
underway to improve parks, including an on-going project with the
World Bank to develop a legal framework to protect wildlife areas.
He opined that there should be more World Bank projects and
public-private protected areas, as well as better branding of
Chile's natural wonders and a greater focus on ecotourism.


6. (SBU) SERNATUR's Director complained that poor upkeep of parks,
especially Torres del Paine, will harm Chile in the long-run. He
noted pending legislation to designate specific areas in the country
as having special touristic interest could allow SERNATUR to
introduce a standardized rating system to help promote increased
tourism. When the Ambassador mentioned that he had met the
Tompkins, Santelices agreed that the Tompkins' parks are impressive.
Santelices derided those Chileans who dislike the Tompkins,
claiming they were "ignorant" and they fail to recognize the
important role of private citizens in conservation.

CONAF Sees Plight of Parks, U.S. Cooperation
--------------


7. (SBU) On February 20, the Ambassador, accompanied by ESTHoff, met
with Acting CONAF Director Luis Duchens and Claudio Cunazza, Head of
the Protected Areas and Environment. Duchens and Cunazza were
sympathetic to the financial situation of the parks. They confirmed
that by law park fees must be pooled and used to support all parks,
including those that receive less tourism. Cunazza said there are
insufficient resources to improve public facilities in many areas of
Chile that receive few visitors.


8. (SBU) The Ambassador described Torres del Paine staff's
dedication in coordinating the rescue of a Canadian hiker. Duchens
noted that increasing numbers of visitors to Chile's parks are
resulting in more congestion and accidents. He voiced concerns not

SANTIAGO 00000215 002 OF 002


only about resources and facilities, but also about a lack of
communication systems. Despite some improvements, including better
general park information on the internet, communication is still a
problem, especially in an emergency.


9. (SBU) Cunazza was worried about the zone between the steppes and
the forest, including areas that support the guanaco. He lauded the
Tompkins' efforts to restore the grazing areas of the guanaco.
[Note: Guanaco are native to the arid, mountainous regions of South
America. They are related to camels and are similar in appearance
to llamas. In Chile, they face competition from livestock. End
note.]


10. (U) Turning to U.S.-Chile cooperation, Cunazza cited the parks
meeting hosted in Washington, D.C. in November 2008, which generated
consensus on areas of potential engagement under the Environmental
Cooperation Agreement work plan. Meeting participants also
expressed optimism about U.S.-Chile cooperation on conservation and
forestry, but bemoaned the dearth of resources to support many of
the proposed projects. Cunazza was pleased, however, that the U.S.
Forestry Service is offering CONAF one scholarship to attend the
Spanish-language "Wildlands and Protected Area Management" seminar,
July 7 - August 9 in Colorado. He said CONAF would identify a
candidate and promised to follow-up with the Embassy.

COMMENT: Chile's Parks Valued, But Underfunded
-------------- --


11. (SBU) Chile is still working to improve its ecotourism in order
to increase the flow of money it generates. There is no doubt
Torres del Paine is the jewel in the crown of Chile's stunning and
unique National Parks system, as well as a major source of income.
However, the current mechanisms for public funding are inadequate.
The number of visitors to Torres del Paine increased from about
20,000 in 1990 to more than 128,000 in 2007. During high season
entrance fees are 15,000 pesos (US$25-30 depending on the exchange
rate) for foreigners and 5,000 pesos for Chileans (US$8-10).
However, the fees do not go directly to the park. In fact, lack of
adequate infrastructure means more visitors put more pressure on the
natural environment. Even if some of the Chilean public does not
support the Tompkins' endeavors, it is clear that the relevant
authorities recognize the value in preserving wilderness, whether
it's through public or private ownership.
SIMONS