Center For Responsible Travel

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT A CONSERVATION EFFORT IN TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA RELATED TO THE ENDANGERED HUEMUL THE PROJECT SEEKS TO IMPROVE HUEMUL CONSERVATION BY MITIGATING THREATS POSED BY PRIVATELY OWNED LIVESTOCK AND TOURISM TO THE HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO CONSERVE THE ENDANGERED SOUTH ANDEAN DEER HIPPOCAMELUS BISULCUS , OR HUEMUL, AND ITS BIODIVERSE HABITATS BY ADDRESSING PUBLIC PRIVATE CONFLICT, DRASTICALLY REDUCING RISK OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN THE NATIONAL PARK, AND IMPROVING UNSUSTAINABLE VISITOR MANAGEMENT PRACTICES SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REALIGNING THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE BASE OF THE TOWERS TRAIL FOR SAFER, LESS INVASIVE, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITH PRIVATE LAND OWNERS WHOSE DOMESTIC ANIMALS THREATEN HUEMUL HABITATS IN TORRES DEL PAINE PARTICIPATIVE WORKSHOPS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND GARNER COMMITMENT TO LONG TERM CONSERVATION ACTIONS REMOVAL OF LIVESTOCK FROM THE NATIONAL PARK AND INSTALLATION OF A 4KM, WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCE BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK AND PRIVATE ESTANCIAS TO PREVENT LIVESTOCK FROM RE ENTERING COLLECTIVE MONITORING OF HUEMUL HABITATS FOR REPOPULATION, DAMAGE TO FENCE, AND PRESENCE OF LIVESTOCK WITH PARK RANGERS, GUIDES, AND PRIVATE LAND OWNERS PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOPS WITH THE LOCAL GUIDE ASSOCIATION TO CREATE A NARRATIVE BASED ON CONSERVATION OF THE HUEMUL AND BIODIVERSITY ON THE NEW BASE OF THE TOWERS TRAIL PROVIDE 100 CHILEAN VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT TORRES DEL PAINE, IMPROVE TRAIL FOR 10 DAYS, AND RECUPERATE AFFECTED HABITATS AND, LAUNCH A STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN THE TORRES CAMPGROUND TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HUEMUL AND PROMOTE TRAIL STEWARDSHIP