I am impressed with Pumalin National Park. No fishing is allowed. No campfires are allowed. And no paved roads are allowed. A pristine natural environment is maintained as best as possible.
This is initially the work of Douglas Tompkins, the founder of The North Face outdoor products company and Esprit, the outdoors clothing company. He sold both companies and bought a huge piece of land in Chile, having fallen in love with the pristine wilderness there.
He wanted to be sure it stayed in its pristine condition as best as possible.
At first, Chileans were concerned. Is this rich American going to drill for oil? Is he going to log the forest to death. Will he turn the land into a massive business operation?
Their fears were unfounded. Several years later, he donated the entire land to the Chilean government on the condition that it become a national park with severe restrictions to exploration. The Chilean government also improved on the initial offering and bought other lands abutting Pumalin and increased the size manifold, with the same restrictions. Its beautiful volcanoes, glaciers, forests, rivers, waterfalls would be preserved.
It is a beautiful pristine place. At least there are people out there who have the heart and soul for the land and nature and have the power to do something about it.
