At the southernmost tip of South America lies a land of stunning natural contrasts: the towering Andes rise sharply from the cold deep waters of the Pacific, creating a rugged expanse of coastal islands, dense rainforests, snow-capped glaciers and powerful wild rivers. One of the world's least-spoiled regions, Patagonia is a lush refuge for the pudu, a miniature deer, as well as the southern river otter and countless other rare and diverse wildlife species. Along the coast, clear rivers flow into one of the world's most important blue whale nurseries and jagged fjords bustle with sea lion colonies.

Today, though, two energy companies, Endesa and Colbun, are pushing to build hydro-electric dams on at least half a dozen rivers in Patagonia. The scheme would lay waste to this thriving region, flooding thousands of acres of irreplaceable wildlife habitat. As part of the same plan, Brookfield Consortium, a Canadian company, would clearcut a 1,400-mile swath through five national parks and two wilderness reserves to make way for the world's largest transmission line.

NRDC and our Chilean partners are calling for a comprehensive review of energy production alternatives in Chile that won't destroy Patagonia's world-renowned rivers and wildlife habitat. On March 31st, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet met with NRDC attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and expressed her willingness to work with us to build a sustainable energy future for her country that would include environmentally sound alternatives such as solar and geothermal energy.

Thank President Bachelet for meeting with NRDC, and encourage her to continue to pursue a clean energy future for Chile.

Photo credits: Coastline, © Tui De Roy. Blue whale tail, © Flip Nicklin.