Historic Co-Governance Agreement for Villarrica National Park
Adapted and translated from an original Spanish piece by Simón Crisostomo Loncopán, President of the Association of Mapuche Winkul Mapu Communities of Kurarewe.
On December 3, 2024, a historic milestone was achieved in Villarrica National Park, Sector Puesco Lanín in Chile, as representatives of over 13 Mapuche communities, the Ministry of National Assets, and the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) gathered to sign the Framework Agreement for the Governance and Management Council of Villarrica National Park. This agreement marks the first instance in Chile’s history where an Indigenous community will gain formal recognition of their territorial rights over a State-Protected Wilderness Area.
The Governance and Management Council, established through this agreement, represents a groundbreaking collaboration between Indigenous communities and the Chilean government, addressing long-standing tensions over land rights and environmental stewardship. It also aligns with Chile’s recently passed Biodiversity Law, which transfers the management of protected areas from CONAF to the new Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service under the Ministry of the Environment.
The Journey to Recognition
The establishment of State-Protected Wilderness Areas in Wallmapu (Mapuche Territory) was part of a larger framework of dispossession that forced the Mapuche Nation to adapt to state conservation models. These Western approaches, rooted in a separation between nature and people, disregarded Indigenous land stewardship practices and restricted ancestral uses of the territory. The overlap of these protected areas with Mapuche lands highlighted systemic governance failures, including a lack of national frameworks, poor implementation of international agreements, and insufficient recognition of Indigenous rights.
In Kurarewe, where 60% of the land is classified as a protected area, this systemic exclusion mobilized the Mapuche communities to act. For decades, the region faced threats ranging from hydroelectric and mining projects to “green” and tourism initiatives that sought to commercialize parts of Villarrica National Park. In 2017, communities took decisive action by entering the park to demand recognition of their biocultural rights. They lifted a rewe, built a ruka, and formed a coalition with a clear mission: to protect the itxofillmogen, the physical and spiritual essence of biodiversity.
A Collaborative Path Forward
In 2018, initial discussions with the park administration began, but it was not until 2022 that a formal Dialogue Roundtable was established at the request of the Kurarewe communities. This roundtable brought together the Ministry of National Assets and CONAF to address management conflicts within the park. Over two years of dialogue, trust-building, and collaboration, the communities and state representatives drafted the framework for the Governance and Management Council of Villarrica National Park, Sector Puesco Lanín.
The Governance Council’s regulations, comprising 55 articles, include key principles such as:
- Safeguarding the biodiversity and itxofillmogen of the park.
- Respecting and valuing the Mapuche worldview, culture, and customary rights.
- Ensuring territorial participation in park governance.
- Establishing a collaborative and transparent dialogue process.
The council will comprise representatives from the Winkulmapu Indigenous Association, the park administration, the Regional Service Directorate, and the relevant SEREMI overseeing protected areas.
Toward a More Inclusive Conservation Model
The signing of the Framework Agreement signifies a critical step toward a more inclusive conservation model, where Indigenous knowledge and state policies work in harmony. This milestone not only addresses past injustices but also establishes a precedent for collaborative governance in protected areas across Chile.
Photo Credits: Nicolas Amaro
With this agreement, the Mapuche communities of Kurarewe reclaim their role as stewards of the land, ensuring the sustainable management of Villarrica National Park for future generations.
This agreement builds on the ongoing efforts of Futa Mawiza, an initiative focused on strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and governance in conservation within Wallmapu (Mapuche Territory). Futa Mawiza is one of 10 initiatives supported by the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and co-implemented by Conservation International (CI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). By placing Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and governance at the heart of conservation efforts, initiatives like Futa Mawiza demonstrate how shared decision making and traditional knowledge can redefine conservation as a more equitable and sustainable practice globally.
See full translated press release from Füta Mawiza team here: Historic Co-Governance Agreement for Villarrica National Park
