This YouTube video is, to me, one of the most inspiring, moving, exciting
examples on conservation and deep ecology in action. The boldness, beauty and brilliance
of these projects in southern Chile
and Argentina
(From Wikipedia)
Douglas Tompkins (born 1943 in Ohio) is an American environmentalist,
prominent landowner, conservationist and a former businessman.
Tompkins
co-founded and ran two clothing companies: the outdoor clothing company The North Face;
and with his then-wife Susie, the ESPRIT clothing
company. Since leaving the business world in 1989, Tompkins has
dedicated himself to environmental activism and land conservation. Along with
his wife, Kristine
Tompkins, he has conserved over 2 million acres (8,100 km2)
of wilderness in Chile and Argentina, more than any
other private individual. Together,
the two have focused Tompkins
Conservation on Park Creation, Restoration, Ecological Agriculture and Activism, with the overarching goal of saving biodiversity while leading others to do the same…
The Tompkins'
conservation efforts focus on preserving wild landscapes and biodiversity.
After purchasing large blocks of wilderness, they work to create national
parks, believing that this governmental designation serves as the best mode of
guaranteeing long-term conservation…
In addition to preserving pristine wilderness,
Tompkins has worked to restore damaged landscapes and protect threatened
species. Ecological restoration has been a critical element of most of Tompkins' conservation projects, especially in the degraded
grassland regions of Chile
Envisioning "conservation as a consequence
of production," Tompkins has developed models of sustainable organic
agriculture, which maintain soil health and ecological integrity at the same
time that they provide for families and support the local economy…
Unlike many land conservationists, Tompkins has
always been both a conservationist and environmental activist. Through his
Foundation for Deep Ecology, he has published a series of large-format, photo
activist books on various environmental issues… In addition, Tompkins has been
involved in several large environmental campaigns in Chile
and Argentina , such as the
Chilean Patagonia Sin Represas campaign, which is opposing the construction of
five dams on two of Patagonia ' s largest and wildest rivers…
Eco Barons Edward
Humes' s 2009 account of the
"dreamers, schemers, and millionaires who are saving our planet,"
uses Tompkins as the first example of this new group of philanthropists.
