Katalapi Park is now officially recognized as a Nature Sanctuary by the Chilean Government
Katalapi Park, a private protected area in Puerto Montt, southern Chile, has been officially recognized by the Chilean government as a Nature Sanctuary, which is equivalent to a nature reserve now legally sanctioned by the state.
Aerial view of Katalapi Park
The declaration made on 4 November by Chile´s Council of Ministers, highlights the importance of the temperate rainforest protected by Katalapi Park, as well as the scientific research and environmental education that has been developed in the park over nearly 3 decades. The 65-acre reserve is already part of the portfolio of the 2018 – 2022 National Wetlands Plan.
Katalapi Park was created as a private initiative 26 years ago by the Corcuera Vliegenthart family, providing a refuge for a diversity of native flora and fauna of the Chilean rainforest and its wetlands, including the marsupial “monito del monte” and dozens of birds. A variety of native ferns abound in the park, some of them species endangered due to human behavior, principally changes in land use.
The katalapi fern (Blechnum magellanicum). The park takes its name from this arborescent fern
In announcing the Katalapi Park as a new addition to Chile´s Nature Santuaries system, Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, said “these ecosystems include a diversity of species which are very important, they represent part of our cultural heritage due to the presence of archaeological sites, as well as the development of traditional practices and the possibility of providing environmental education to local communities. All of this means that their long-term conservation and management diversity is fundamental, something that will be achieved with the support of neighbors and local organizations to ensure they are protected.”
The designation does not provide any financing by the state for the park.
Ana María Vliegenthart, founder of Katalapi Park, said “we are very happy with the news we received that Katalapi Park is now an official Nature Sanctuary. This was a dream we had cherished for a long time and this year, we able to present the application. We look forward to receiving representatives from the ministry and others interested in conservation.”
The biodiversity within Katalapi Park includes 7 species of frogs and toads, 2 species of reptiles, at least 32 species of birds which are spotted regularly, about 15 species of mammals, some 60 species of insects including coleopterons. Crustaceans have been observed in the bodies of water within the park.
Fundación Parque Katalapi (FPK) was created in 2017 by Elisa Corcuera, a member of the founding family, to ensure the sustainability of the park, as a valuable space for scientific research, with agreements with Chile´s Universidad de Concepción and the Universidad de la Frontera.
The Foundation also participates in environmental education networks such as the regional committee for environmental education in the región of Los Lagos, and in the national private and community conservation network Así Conserva Chile.
The Los Lagos regional representative of the Environment Ministry, Klaus Kosiel, said that the declaration is «recognition by the Chilean state of the tremendous work that … has [been] carried out over decades, not only in the impressive work of conservation but also its transcendental role in environmental education with local communities and at the national level, as well as serving as fertile ground for scientific research into the species which co-exist there”
