Rewilding Patagonia | earthrise

The human footprint is so huge that it affects an astonishing three-quarters of the land on the planet. Only a few pockets of wilderness remain on Earth today. In response, a worldwide movement is under way to ‘rewild’ the countryside.

One initiative, in Chile’s Patagonia, is exceeding all expectations. In 2004, philanthropists Kris and Doug Tompkins bought a sheep ranch and set about restoring its overgrazed lands. Their venture went on to become one of the biggest conservation projects in history. Recently it has expanded even further with the support of the Chilean state.

This was such a good story that I decided to make a 25-minute special episode about it.