Conserva Aves lands in Chile: Hemispheric initiative protects migratory bird corridors and their critical habitats
- Oct 6, 2025
- 4 min read
Chile has officially joined the Conserva Aves initiative to protect migratory bird corridors and their essential habitats. This effort—led by Fondo Naturaleza Chile as a member of RedLAC—has the technical and financial support of Fundación Cosmos, the National Audubon Society, and the collaboration of the Chilean Network of Bird and Wildlife Observers (ROC).
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Official launch in Chile
September 29, 2025 - Chile officially joined the hemispheric conservation initiative Conserva Aves, with the goal of protecting migratory bird corridors that cross the country. The official launch took place at La Moneda Palace during the opening of the RedLAC 2025 Congress, with the participation of Chile's Minister of Economy, Álvaro García; the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas; representatives of the environmental funds gathered in RedLAC; representatives from the private sector; and representatives from the regional organizations of Conserva Aves.
Birds are key allies for our survival. Their conservation ensures the health of the ecosystems that provide us with water, regulate the climate, capture carbon, and sustain biodiversity. Furthermore, as bioindicators, they reflect the state of nature: when their populations decline, so do the vital services upon which human communities depend. Protecting them means strengthening resilient ecosystems that reduce the impacts of extreme weather events and guarantee well-being for people.
In 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, which has an initial investment of 2.6 million dollars, is implemented through a collaborative alliance between Fondo Naturaleza Chile - a member of the Latin American and Caribbean Environmental Funds Network (RedLAC) -, the Cosmos Foundation - with more than a decade of experience in management models that link conservation and community well-being - and the Chilean Network of Bird and Wildlife Observers (ROC), responsible for capacity building and biological monitoring.
The international organization Audubon is participating by providing technical and financial support to this initiative. The initiative aligns with the global 30x30 goal and will protect Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and other critical habitats for migratory birds, contributing to ecosystem balance and the health of the planet. The birds, recognized as excellent bioindicators, will allow for monitoring the health of these territories, which provide environmental services such as water supply, climate regulation, pollination, and carbon sequestration.
During the ceremony, Engineer Jorge Oviedo, President of RedLAC, highlighted that "Chile completes an essential piece in the map of protection of migratory corridors of the continent, positioning itself as a strategic actor for hemispheric conservation."
The Conserva Aves model integrates scientific knowledge with local knowledge, incorporating work with communities, an essential part of effective conservation.
“This alliance demonstrates that in Chile we have the conditions to participate in global programs that provide local benefits and help guarantee the balance of ecosystems, the health of the planet, and the prosperity of people,” said Eugenio Rengifo, executive director of Fondo Naturaleza Chile. “The announcement confirms the key role that environmental funds, such as Fondo Naturaleza Chile, play in mobilizing resources for the restoration and conservation of natural capital,” he added.
Aurelio Ramos, Audubon's Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the country's role as a strategic location for birds in the hemisphere: “ Chile is home to resident species like the Arica hummingbird and a key refuge for heroic travelers such as the Arctic sandpiper, which travels 15,000 km from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. Protecting Chilean forests, wetlands, and coasts is essential for birds, the local communities that inhabit them, and the planet.”
The arrival of Conserva Aves in Chile would not have been possible without the technical and financial support of its 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 institutions, it incorporates technical support that guarantees the development and implementation of management plans. This will allow us to move towards the effective conservation of priority sites for biodiversity, especially birds,” said Diego Urrejola, executive director of the foundation, highlighting the role of environmental philanthropy in addressing global challenges.
Conserva Aves Chile plans to continue gathering contributions to launch its first public call for proposals, which will open opportunities for grassroots organizations in the sustainable management of natural resources. This approach ensures that conservation efforts generate a tangible impact on both biodiversity and local communities.
About the Bird Conservation Initiative
Conserva Aves is an alliance between the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and the Latin American and Caribbean Environmental Funds Network (RedLAC). In Chile, the initiative is implemented by Fondo Naturaleza Chile and the Chilean Network of Bird and Wildlife Observers (ROC), with technical and financial support from the Cosmos Foundation.
See the press coverage of this launch
CNN: Chile joins Conserva Aves: the RedLAC 2025 Congress begins in Santiago
[Publicado por CNN Chile el 29 de septiembre de 2025] South Slope: $2.6 million for birds, Chile joins hemispheric initiative that protects migratory bird corridors and their critical habitats.
El Mercurio (Innovation): Chile joins initiative to protect key bird habitats in Latin America and the Caribbean
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