Chile-Argentina partnership protects Patagonia peatlands

Chile and Argentina have strengthened a binational alliance, the Iniciativa Turberas Patagónicas (ITP), to safeguard the peatland ecosystems of Patagonia. Peatlands, or "turberas," cover only about 3 % of the planet’s land surface but store roughly one‑third of global soil carbon, with Chile alone holding an estimated 4.8 gigatonnes.

The ITP brings together environmental NGOs, universities, public agencies and local communities from both nations to develop joint conservation, restoration and sustainable‑management strategies. Its first official assembly in 2026 established a shared governance model and a binational steering committee, while technical workshops in the Magallanes region have produced guidelines for decision‑making, resource allocation and long‑term project continuity.

The alliance aims to counter threats such as unsustainable moss extraction, expanding industrial activities, mining and invasive species, positioning the peatlands as a key tool for climate‑change mitigation and biodiversity preservation.