WCS in Tierra del Fuego

Separated from the mainland of South America by the Straits of Magellan, the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (which translates to “land of fire”) contains a sprawling wilderness unlike any other in the world.  Both the western (Chilean) and eastern (Argentine) portions of Tierra del Fuego are home to large stands of old-growth deciduous lenga forests, peat bogs, alpine meadows, river systems, fjords and spectacular snow-capped mountains. The landscape supports a wide range of wildlife, including the guanaco, symbolic of the wild, open ecosystems of southern South America.

Since the early 1960s, WCS has been committed to conserving wildlife and wild lands of the Southern Cone of South America.  In that time WCS has helped create protected areas to safeguard populations of Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, southern elephant seals and southern right whales. In September 2004, WCS accepted a gift of 680,000 acres (272,000 hectares) of Chilean lands on Tierra del Fuego, with the goal of ensuring regional conservation in perpetuity.

The Human Aspect
The indigenous Selk´nam, Yamana, Alakaluf and Haush peoples were extirpated from Tierra del Fuego in the early twentieth century. Important economic activities include sheep ranching, oil extraction, logging, mining, tourism, and industrial and artisanal fisheries. Much of Tierra del Fuego is sparsely inhabited, composed primarily of remote ranches, or estancias. Ushuaia, the island’s major port, is located on the southeastern coast.

Threats
Over the last century, exotic species have dramatically altered Tierra del Fuego’s terrestrial and freshwater environments. Introduced beaver populations have expanded rapidly in the absence of top predators, causing extensive damage to forests and altering natural water flows. Sheep, cattle, and rabbits compete with native herbivores and may transmit diseases to guanacos. Feral minks may be killing large numbers of native ground-nesting birds.

Along the coast, aquaculture facilities (particularly mussel and trout culture), industrial-scale fishing, poorly planned development and untreated sewage are changing marine and coastal ecosystems. A second threat is the increasing use of wildlife as a tourist attraction without appropriate regulations. Finally, the lack of knowledge on the ecology of key wildlife species across Tierra del Fuego hinders the ability of stakeholders to develop science-based wildlife and habitat management guidelines.

WCS Activities
Since 1992, WCS has led a marine wildlife ecology and conservation project in Argentine Tierra del Fuego. The project focuses on important marine predators, including rockhopper and Magellanic penguins and giant petrels. Other objectives include promoting responsible ecotourism activities and improving the management of coastal areas by reducing conflicts between different sectors.

To manage Karukinka, newly acquired lands in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, WCS is partnering with Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Charitable Fund (which donated the lands) in a formal alliance that is intended to last for three years. In planning for the conservation of these lands, sustainable development activities, including ecotourism, will be undertaken to support conservation objectives and additionally to provide benefits to local communities. We are cooperating with a distinguished advisory council to be selected and made up of a majority of Chilean citizens.

Important Next Steps

• Implement a research and conservation action plan to conserve a large swath of the ecosystems of Tierra del Fuego and serve as a model for conservation across Patagonia.
• Consult with Chilean universities, NGOs, government officials, and local landowners to develop solutions to sustainable development and conservation issues in western Tierra del Fuego.
• Explore the various methods available for control of introduced beavers and implement a pilot program on WCS properties.
• Continue providing recommendations to Argentine agencies regarding ecotourism best practices and the implementation of provincial reserves.
• Begin applied research focusing on reducing the impact of feral minks on seabirds and waterfowl of the Beagle Channel.