Futrono residents march to defend Lago Ranco from real estate project

On October 12, 2026, residents and community organizations in Futrono, Chile, held a peaceful march to defend Lago Ranco and protest against the ‘Nuevo Desarrollo Inmobiliario Bahía Coique’ project. The demonstration was organized by the Epu Lafken Mapu Collective of Isla Huapi, the Futrono Water and Environment Table, and Modatima Los Ríos.

Protesters expressed concerns regarding the ‘Bahía Coique’ project by Inmobiliaria Arenas Blancas, a US$40 million development involving 208 housing units on approximately 18.12 hectares. Key objections include the potential for sewage discharge into the Coique River, which flows into the lake, and the risk of contamination for the Isla Huapi community, which lacks potable water and relies directly on the lake.

Additional concerns raised by the Epu Lafken Mapu Collective include gentrification, increased cost of living, traffic congestion, and the saturation of motorized vessels on the lake. The project was approved by the Los Ríos Environmental Evaluation Commission (Coeva) in August.