What we do
We work on multiple fronts to protect wildlife and ecosystems of the Araucanía
Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
Our rescue program operates 24 hours, responding to wildlife emergencies throughout the Lonquimay region and adjacent communes.
Fundación Luan's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center annually treats more than 80 animals that arrive with injuries from road accidents, electrocution on power lines, window collisions, illegal traps, or rescued from illegal trafficking.
We have specialized areas for raptors (including condors and eagles), small mammals (foxes, skunks, coypus), and a quarantine area for newly admitted animals. Each animal receives an individualized rehabilitation plan aimed at maximizing the chances of return to its natural habitat.
When reintroduction is not possible —in cases of animals that cannot fend for themselves in the wild— we seek responsible care centers or, in exceptional cases, the animal may become an educational ambassador for the foundation.
Ecological corridors
Habitat fragmentation is one of the main threats to native wildlife. Our corridor program works to reconnect isolated ecosystems.
We work closely with landowners, Mapuche communities, and public agencies to identify and restore biological corridors that allow the free movement of species such as puma, huemul, and culpeo fox between different habitat areas.
Our approach includes installing special fences that allow wildlife passage, revegetation with native species in degraded areas, signposting wildlife crossings on roads, and educational work with landowners to promote grazing practices compatible with conservation.
We currently manage three active corridors in the Biobío basin, connecting Tolhuaca National Park with privately protected areas in the cordilleran valleys.
Environmental education
We firmly believe that long-term conservation requires deep cultural changes. That's why education is one of our fundamental pillars.
Our environmental education program reaches more than 500 students per year, through workshops in rural schools in Lonquimay and neighboring communities, talks at community centers, and a guided visit program to our rehabilitation center.
We develop specific teaching materials about native wildlife in the Araucanía, many with illustrations inspired by the region's rock art, integrating scientific knowledge with the Mapuche worldview.
We also have a special program for youth from Mapuche communities, which combines wildlife observation with rescuing traditional knowledge about the relationships between humans and nature.
Monitoring and science
Knowledge is the foundation of effective conservation. Our scientific program generates key data on the status of wildlife populations in the region.
We use camera traps, GPS telemetry, and environmental DNA sampling to monitor populations of puma, huemul, Andean condor, pudú, and other priority species. Our data feeds national and international databases, contributing to global knowledge about Patagonian biodiversity.
In collaboration with the Universidad de La Frontera and other academic institutions, we regularly publish scientific articles and technical reports that inform public conservation policies in the region.
We also implement a citizen science program that allows visitors, farmers, and local communities to report wildlife sightings, significantly expanding our monitoring capacity.
Native reforestation
We restore native forests with indigenous species of the Araucanía, creating quality habitat for local wildlife and capturing carbon to mitigate climate change.
Our nursery annually produces more than 5,000 plants of native species such as raulí, roble, coihue, araucaria, mañío, and canelo, which are then used to restore areas degraded by fires, illegal logging, or overgrazing.
We work in agreement with Mapuche communities and rural landowners, who actively participate in plantings and receive training in sustainable forest management. This approach ensures that plantings are culturally appropriate and sustainable over time.
To date we have reforested more than 800 hectares, with a plant survival rate of 82%, one of the highest in the region thanks to our soil preparation and species selection protocol.
Sustainable tourism
Well-managed nature tourism can be a powerful ally for conservation, generating economic resources for the local community and funds for our programs.
We develop wildlife watching routes in partnership with local tourism operators and Mapuche communities, offering unique experiences observing condors, pumas, foxes, and native birds in their natural habitat.
Every visitor who participates in an ecotourism activity linked to Fundación Luan directly contributes to our conservation programs through a percentage of the fee that goes to the conservation fund. This creates a virtuous cycle: more tourists = more funds = better conservation = more wildlife = more tourists.
Our ecotourism volunteering program allows visitors from around the world to actively participate in monitoring, reforestation, and environmental education activities, combining a transformative experience with a real contribution to conservation.