Did you hear?… Patagonia, Inc. announces its support for a new land conservation project

Though SNEWS® has known about this since early last year, Patagonia, Inc. has only just now announced its official support for a new land conservation project in the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile. The Patagonia Land Trust (PLT), a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to the protection, restoration, and maintenance of wildland ecosystems and biodiversity in the Patagonia region of South America, was founded by former CEO of Patagonia, Inc., Kris McDivitt Tompkins, and includes as Board Member, Yvon Chouinard, owner and founder of Patagonia Inc., and as advisor, Patagonia Inc.’s current CEO, Michael Crooke. Patagonia is a founding partner and major supporter of the Patagonia Land Trust. To date, the company has contributed over $100,000 of in-kind services to the new project, including two full pages of information about the PLT in its Summer 2002 catalog. The company plans to continue publicity regarding the project through its retail stores and on its website. The PLT’s objective is to raise funds to purchase large tracts of land in the Patagonia region and link them together to form extensive protected areas. The organization intends that these lands will be permanently protected and open to the public as parks, reserves, and sanctuaries. “With land prices as low as $10 an acre, even a small donation can help us save a significant amount of land in this magnificent corner of the earth,” said Brad Meiklejohn, PLT president. “I’m confident that our alliance with Patagonia Inc. and their customers will set an outstanding example for land conservation efforts world-wide.” Meiklejohn estimates the PLT needs to raise $50 million to increase the protected area of the Patagonia region at least 10 percent, or by approximately 10 million acres. Information regarding current land acquisition projects is available at the PLT website, www.patagonialandtrust.org.