World Wildlife Fund

As part of our work in all regions of the world and across our priority places, WWF is committed to supporting indigenous and local communities. We are working to help them conserve and sustainably use their natural resources and to advocate on issues of shared concern.

Community conservation program awarded Chile's bicentennial seal

The President of Chile awards the Bicentennial Seal to a Mapu Lahual community leader.
© WWF-Chile

On December 17, 2007, Chile's President awarded the prestigious Bicentennial Seal to WWF's community conservation project "Strengthening Governance and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Huilliche Territory of Mapu Lahual." The project won in the Environment category, and was nominated by WWF and the Mapu Lahual Indigenous Association to the Chilean Government.

WWF launched the program in August 2007 with the Mapu Lahual Indigenous Association and New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID) to benefit nine Huilliche communities living along the coast of the Osorno Province in some of Chile's poorest counties. The project will allow families to significantly improve their quality of life while also conserving their environment. It will also help strengthen indigenous and community organization through planning and participation, as well as by developing sustainable economic alternatives such as ecotourism and the marketing handicrafts and canned goods.

The alerce is also known as Patagonian Cypress, and is the largest tree species in South America.
© WWF-Canon / Edward Parker

Both people and nature benefit when local communities and organizations - in collaboration with the government and other agencies - proactively design and manage environmentally friendly development programs. WWF's work with the Mapu Lahual Indigenous Association helps protect Southern Chile's natural heritage - especially the endemic alerce tree, the southern hemisphere's equivalent of the Pacific Northwest's ancient redwood. This endangered species can live for more than 3,000 years - making it the second-longest living organism on Earth. And while the alerce is officially protected under CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, it continues to be illegally logged.

Historic moment for indigenous rights and forest conservation

Hoffens A Pehuenche man in traditional dress at the land title ceremony.
© WWF-Chile

On December 13, 2007, WWF joined the indigenous Pehuenche community of Quinquén in a ceremony marking the successful end to a 17 year struggle over land rights and the conservation of araucaria forests in Southern Chile. On that day, the government of Chile formally recognized the community's rights to 22,000 acres of araucaria forest. WWF and partner organizations worked closely with the communities to successfully navigate their lengthy land titling and land planning process.

A Pehuenche Indian holding nuts from the araucaria - or Monkey Puzzle - tree.
© WWF-Canon / Edward PARKER

The story of this Pehuenche community first caught the public's attention in the late 1980s when a logging company tried to evict indigenous families living in the araucaria forest. During a lengthy trial, the company demanded the right to log araucaria forests on lands they owned, even though Pehuenche families had lived there for generations. Around the same time, this company won another lawsuit against the government of Chile, resulting in the reversal of a 1976 ban on logging araucaria. The araucaria - or monkey-puzzle tree - is endemic to Southern Chile, and can live for thousands of years. Araucaria forests are culturally and economically important to the Quinquén and other Pehuenche communities, as they collect the araucaria's pine nuts for household consumption and to sell at local markets. The community's use of the forests is considered a model of sustainable natural resource management throughout Chile.

Portrait of Pehuenche boy, with the Andes Mountains in the background.
© WWF-Chile

Community resistance to eviction and the campaign for araucaria protection sparked interest among many Chilean and international organizations, including WWF. In 1990, this conflict led the government of Chile to purchase 66,000 acres from the logging company to benefit Quinquén as well as three other Pehuenche communities. Following this purchase, the araucaria was re-declared as a natural monument, logging araucaria was once again banned and the species was included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), prohibiting its international trade.

In spite of this purchase, the transfer of land titles to the communities was delayed by a series of lawsuits and administrative obstacles. In 2005 the Penhuenche community invited WWF and the Observatory of Indigenous Peoples' Rights to help them gaining formal rights to the land, with support from the Ford Foundation.

Group of Pehuenche youths dancing in celebration.
© WWF-Chile

Since the late 1990s, WWF has worked to conserve Southern Chile's natural wonders. In addition to our collaboration with the Pehuenche of Quinquén, we also partner with other local communities to provide conservation training and improve livelihoods; collaborate with the private sector to promote sustainable business practices; and craft and advocate the adoption of more stringent government regulations to protect people and nature.