A Massive Conservation Initiative in Southern Chile

An isolated island in the region of southern Chile has recently been the subject of a major conservation initiative through the partnership of Re:wild, an environmental nonprofit organization which is co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio.
The island is named Guafo and is situated south of the Chiloé archipelago. It encompasses around 20,000 hectares of forests, coast, and wildlife.
The ownership of the privately-owned territory has changed hands in favor of Re:wild and partner organizations in 2025, with the aim to preserve the land from any activities related to exploitation including coal mining, deforestation, and industrial projects.

Why Is This Initiative Related to Leonardo DiCaprio?

While many media reports claim that this initiative is a personal action on behalf of DiCaprio to purchase the land, it is stated that the acquisition process was conducted by Re:wild and its conservation partners.
DiCaprio is one of the founders of Re:wild, and he mentioned this acquisition along with the idea behind the project to create a national park by donating the land to the Chilean government.

Importance of Guafo Island

Guafo is regarded as one of the areas of rich biodiversity. It is claimed that the territory hosts considerable numbers of marine and coastal fauna.
Species which inhabit the region include Magellanic penguins, sea otters, and birds. An additional feature of the territory is the extremely large colony of sooty shearwaters breeding there. 3
Forests and marine territory of the territory make the land attractive for conservation, not only because of certain species, but the ecosystem itself.

Protection of the Island From Industrial Exploitation

Prior to the purchase of the conservation, Guafo island belonged to private parties and was available on the market. There were environmental concerns related to the potential use of the island for forestry, coal mining, etc.
With the help of the purchase, the ownership of the territory has been changed, and this act aimed to prevent such uses of the property. 4
In the long-term perspective, the coalition wants to transfer the territory into possession of Chilean government for making it a national park.

National Park in the Future

However, the process of transitioning the land into public ownership is a gradual process since the organizations have yet to comply with the process of transferring ownership and determining the protected status of the land.
Recently reported news indicates that the donation to the Chilean government and the establishment of a national park is still pending.

Wildlife is the Core Element in Conservation Efforts

One of the important aspects of wildlife on Guafo Island, which is why the island is considered worthy of conservation efforts, is biodiversity.

This region includes:

  • Magellanic penguins
  • Marine otters
  • Populations of seabirds
  • Native forests
  • Coastal and marine habitats

Such an approach will allow preserving the favorable conditions necessary for breeding, feeding, and survival of animals.

Local Indigenous Communities are an Important Aspect as Well

Conservation of Guafo is not only about protection of the wild fauna of the island. In the reporting there is evidence of a long history of association of the Mapuche-Williche community with the island and its waters.
Any conservation strategy should include not only protecting the wildlife but taking into consideration the local communities with their traditions and culture.

Conservation Project With a Long-Term Vision

The Guafo project not only entails private land acquisition but also incorporates a more comprehensive vision of conservation for the community at large. Unlike projects that intend to keep the purchased property privately, those behind the project have stated their intention to ultimately donate it to the Chilean government.

Currently, the emphasis is on preserving the purchased territory and proceeding with the process of ensuring that it will be conserved in the future.
The case has received worldwide attention since it includes a huge wilderness territory, endangered species, conservation organizations, and an environmentalist.
The long-term vision of the project is to preserve the ecosystems of Guafo for the future.