Chile officially joins the Conserva Aves initiative to protect migratory bird corridors and their essential habitats. This effort—led by Fondo Naturaleza Chile as a RedLAC member—has the technical and financial support of Fundación Cosmos, the National Audubon Society, and the collaboration of the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC).
Eduardo Segovia, Fondo Naturaleza Chile
Official Launch in Chile
Santiago, September 29, 2025 – Chile has officially joined the hemispheric conservation initiative Conserva Aves, with the goal of protecting migratory bird corridors that cross the national territory. The official launch took place at the Palacio de La Moneda during the opening of the RedLAC 2025 Congress, with the participation of Chile’s Minister of Economy, Álvaro García; Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas; representatives of environmental funds gathered in RedLAC; representatives from the private sector; and regional organizations of Conserva Aves.
Birds are key allies for our survival. Their conservation ensures the health of ecosystems that provide us with water, regulate the climate, capture carbon, and sustain biodiversity. In addition, as bioindicators, they reflect the state of nature: when their populations decline, so do the vital services on which human communities depend. Protecting them means strengthening resilient ecosystems that reduce the impacts of extreme climate events and guarantee people’s well-being.
With this spirit, the implementation of the initiative in Chile seeks to coordinate efforts to strengthen the management of natural areas, generate benefits for local communities, and contribute to global goals.
Project Implementation
The project—with an initial investment of USD 2.6 million—is being implemented through a collaborative partnership between Fondo Naturaleza Chile, a member of the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC); Fundación Cosmos, with over a decade of experience in management models that connect conservation and community well-being; and the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), responsible for capacity building and biological monitoring.
The international organization Audubon is providing technical and financial support for this initiative. The effort aligns with the global 30×30 target and will protect Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and other critical habitats for migratory birds, contributing to ecosystem balance and planetary health. Birds, recognized as excellent bioindicators, will help monitor the health of these territories, which provide environmental services such as water supply, climate regulation, pollination, and carbon capture.
During the ceremony, Jorge Oviedo, President of RedLAC, highlighted that “Chile completes an essential piece in the map of protection for the continent’s migratory corridors, positioning itself as a strategic actor for hemispheric conservation.”
The Conserva Aves model integrates scientific knowledge with local wisdom, incorporating work with communities—an essential element for effective conservation.
“This alliance demonstrates that in Chile we have the conditions to be part of global programs that generate local benefits while helping to ensure ecosystem balance, planetary health, and people’s prosperity,” said Eugenio Rengifo, Executive Director of Fondo Naturaleza Chile. “This announcement confirms the key role of environmental funds, such as Fondo Naturaleza Chile, in mobilizing resources for the restoration and conservation of Natural Capital,” he added.
Aurelio Ramos, Audubon’s Executive Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized the country’s role as a strategic site for the hemisphere’s birds: “Chile is home to resident species such as the Arica hummingbird and a key refuge for heroic travelers like the Red Knot, which migrates 15,000 km from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. Protecting Chile’s forests, wetlands, and coasts is essential for birds, the local communities that live alongside them, and the planet.”
The arrival of Conserva Aves in Chile would not have been possible without the technical and financial support of the national partner, Fundación Cosmos. “We decided to join this initiative because, in addition to promoting the creation of new protected areas in the country within the framework of the new environmental institutionality, it provides technical support that ensures the development and implementation of management plans. This will allow us to move toward effective conservation of priority sites for biodiversity, especially birds,” said Diego Urrejola, Executive Director of the foundation, underscoring the role of environmental philanthropy in addressing global challenges.
Conserva Aves Chile is expected to continue receiving contributions in order to launch its first public call, opening opportunities for grassroots organizations in the sustainable management of natural resources. This approach ensures that conservation actions generate tangible impacts both on biodiversity and on local communities.
About the Conserva Aves Initiative
Conserva Aves is an alliance between American Bird Conservancy (ABC), National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). In Chile, the initiative is implemented by Fondo Naturaleza Chile and the Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), with the technical and financial support of Fundación Cosmos.