OUR STORY
OUR PURPOSE
“Preserve the natural and cultural heritage from a harmonious coexistence among its actors, safeguarding the legacy for future generations and humanity."
Why?
With the intention of projecting this legacy and treasure of humanity for the next generations and with the intention of promoting a harmonious and respectful relationship and coexistence between human activity and the species and ecosystems of the territory.
For what?
The desire to preserve both the natural and cultural heritage of the area, which includes biodiversity, paleontology, customs, architecture and archaeology, among other elements.
OUR TEAM
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PIA VERGARA
Director
"Since I am conscious I have felt part of nature, I believe that we are all part of nature, by essence. To be able to be working on something that complements my need to be in nature and at the same time being able to contribute to bringing humanity closer to this is a dream come true, using photography as a tool to protect the species that live here. Also, from the first time I set foot in Patagonia, it captivated me in such a way that I have never stopped going, like the Estancia... I think it is a very special place which I hope many people can get to know. Being able to help achieve a real and respectful coexistence between livestock and wildlife, especially with Pumas... working as a team and collaboration is like we make dreams come true. "
AGUSTÍN ROSELLÓ
Head of Operations
"Being able to help conserve species as charismatic as the puma and the condor is the dream of many of us who work in conservation. Being part of the Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation gives me the opportunity to fulfill this dream by contributing a grain of sand in this great task that implies both challenges and rewards. I am very happy to be given the opportunity to be part of this great team, to take action for conservation, to be part of a legacy that will last over time."
Foto: Pía Vergara
MIRKO UTROVICICH
Tracker and guard dog supervisor.
"What motivates me the most about this project is the type of work, always in contact with nature and being able to contribute with different methods of protection for livestock and wildlife."
RODRIGO GARAY
Administration and Finances
"As an amateur photographer, I got closer and began to know a little more about the pumas that fascinated me more and more. On the other hand, I always thought that I wanted to work in conservation at some point. And when I found out about this project that combined my desire to contribute to the conservation of species and the pumas, I wanted to be part of it. I think it is essential and motivates me to try to harmonize the coexistence between livestock and pumas, not only in Cerro Guido but hopefully throughout Patagonia and if I can contribute much better to it. To all of the above, let's add that a large part of the work is in the field, outdoors and with my camera by my side."
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DIEGO CORNEJO
Administration and Finances
"Being in contact with nature is where I feel fulfilled. Patagonia is a captivating place and working at the Cerro Guido Foundation is a tremendous opportunity. I am convinced that the only possible form of development is respecting our environment and the people who inhabit it. That is why I am greatly motivated to be part of this project; contributing to a harmonious development, surrounded by people with great conviction, satisfying my personal objectives is extremely gratifying."
Tracker
SOLANGE SABELLE
"For me, it is very valuable to belong to this team since it gives me the opportunity to develop professionally within a job with meaning, in this case, conservation, which makes us more aware of the natural wealth that we have in our country and is the main legacy to future generations."
Community Manager
BEATRIZ SCHNEIDER
"For me, it is very valuable to belong to this team since it gives me the opportunity to develop professionally within a job with meaning, in this case, conservation, which makes us more aware of the natural wealth that we have in our country and is the main legacy to future generations."
Administración y Finanzas
PEDRO LARSEN
"For me, it is very valuable to belong to this team since it gives me the opportunity to develop professionally within a job with meaning, in this case, conservation, which makes us more aware of the natural wealth that we have in our country and is the main legacy to future generations."
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cristián Matetic
President
"For me, this project represents challenging the "established" truths, motivating the encounter between worlds that seem to have little in common, and opening the way when one has a purpose. Here we are betting on a project that seeks to rescue all the positive that exists in different areas when developing a territory, on the one hand, the importance of the local fauna and flora, on the other the contribution of livestock to the development and settlement of this area, writing history and defining its cultural traditions, all of this united by tourism, which is the medium that allows all this to be valued and shared".
Jorge Matetic
Director
"The world is a great ecosystem and we all must take care of it because living beings are genetically designed for this ecosystem and not for another, so we must take care of it."
Nicolás Simunovic
Director
"What motivates me most about this project is the type of work, always in contact with nature and being able to contribute with different methods of protection for livestock and wildlife."
Consuelo Valdés
Director
"The Magallanes region, a unique natural and cultural setting in our country and in the world, has captivated me since I met it as a teenager. Land of pioneers whose spirit inspires and reinforces the objectives of the Cerro Guido Foundation, which I make my own. I value the opportunity to contribute and be part of a group of people who feel the responsibility of seeking alternatives for a demanding sustainable development that combines biocultural conservation, tourism, and entrepreneurship. I am grateful to be part of that commitment and, by the way, to keep my connection with a Patagonia that is in the universal imaginary."
Isabel Behncke
Director
"As a passionate ecologist and scholar of social behavior patterns in both humans and other primates, my career and explorations have been guided by a deep admiration for historical figures who advocated for a holistic understanding of nature and its intrinsic connection to humanity, such as Alexander von Humboldt and Darwin. At the Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation, we continue this legacy by promoting a coexistence that is not only possible but crucial for our future.
The interconnection between all forms of life has been a constant in my research and is at the core of our mission at the Foundation. We firmly believe that conservation should not exclude human activity; on the contrary, it can dynamically and adaptively integrate it into the present ecosystem of human and natural environments. In Patagonia, we work to ensure that livestock farming coexists sustainably with wildlife, demonstrating that it is possible to maintain our productive traditions while caring for the natural environment we share.
Balanced coexistence does not go against our needs as human beings or those of wildlife; it is essential for the sustainability of both. In every step we take, we draw inspiration from Humboldt’s vision of interconnected nature, a vision that needs to be understood and practiced now more than ever. The Cerro Guido Foundation is more than a conservation project; it is a commitment to life, to our evolutionary past, and to a present that respects and values the biodiversity of our planet."
"I just went for a walk, and in the end, I decided to stay out until dark, because I discovered that when I went out, I was actually going in."
- John Muir