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The Sea Forests at the End of the World

Protecting 86% of kelp forests in Argentina

Giant kelp forests cover 28% of the world’s marine coastlines, but they are declining at a rate faster than tropical rainforests and coral reefs. One of the primary causes is rising ocean temperatures, making their conservation increasingly challenging. However, there is one place where kelp forests have a chance to thrive. Patagonia's subantarctic kelp forests have not yet experienced significant temperature rises, setting them apart from those in other regions and making Patagonia’s coastline one of the last global refuges for these underwater forests.

Despite this, the ecosystem faces significant challenges. Historically, extractive activities have been carried out in Patagonia, and as oil and gas production declines, new productive alternatives are being sought. Various initiatives are promoting algae extraction, and with no regulations at either the provincial or national level, kelp forests are under immense threat. Additionally, poor coastal management and pollution from various industries add further pressure to this unique habitat.

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Por el Mar

Our mission is to explore, protect, and, if necessary, rewild the kelp forests along the coasts of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego provinces, aiming to create a marine protected area corridor to ensure their long-term conservation. While we know achieving this will take years of effort, we have already made significant progress.

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01 Science & Conservation

Over the past year, we conducted 4 scientific expeditions to study the extensive kelp forests along the coasts of the Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego provinces. Together with Más Kelp and Kelpwatch, we mapped for the first time Argentina’s kelp forests and the associated species. While we observed that these ecosystems are currently in balance, we detected significant threats and potential dangers, such as unregulated algae extraction and the presence of invasive species like Undaria pinnatifida. We are addressing these challenges by developing threat management plans and supporting the creation of a science-based protected corridor for Patagonian kelp forests. We are also developing a conservation program to protect the key apex predators of this ecosystem: sharks.

Visit the Science section to learn more about the scientific and conservation initiatives that are part of this project.

02 Policy and Advocacy

Our policy and advocacy team ensures that conservation efforts translate into concrete legal advancements. During this time, we have successfully promoted the declaration of national interest for the preservation of kelp forests and facilitated the signing of three collaboration agreements with the National Government, through the National Parks Administration, the government of Santa Cruz province, and three local organizations, to achieve the protection of Argentina's macroalgae forests. Additionally, last year we strongly advocated for the creation of the new Monte León Marine Protected Area (MPA). Ultimately, our goal is to establish a network of MPAs while working to strengthen the legal protection of Patagonia's macroalgae forests.

03 Local Stewardship

Our team works hand in hand with local organizations, institutions, and communities to raise awareness in both provinces and enhance local engagement in environmental protection. However, making conservation a cultural value requires more than that. In a country where almost 50% of the population lives below the poverty line, it is crucial to provide job-generating solutions to environmental challenges whenever possible. As interest in wild kelp extraction initiatives grows, we are collaborating with local partners to develop regenerative kelp farming as a sustainable alternative. We believe that place-based economies that rely on healthy ecosystems will be the ultimate solution to the environmental crisis.

04 Communication and Activism

The communication team has been working tirelessly to bring Patagonia’s sea forests into the spotlight. Not long ago, these underwater forests at the end of the world were a silent secret beneath the waves, unseen and unknown to most of the country's population. Today, they are slowly emerging into public awareness as we spread the word through various channels, from social media to television and press. Our goal is for this historically overlooked ecosystem to not only be known but actively defended. 

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Por el Mar

Milestones

01

Creation of Península Mitre Provincial Park in Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina.

In December 2022, as a result of a joint effort involving local organizations, scientists, and the community, Tierra del Fuego established the Península Mitre protected area. This area covers one million hectares of land and sea, ensuring the conservation of 76% of the kelp forests in Tierra del Fuego.

02

Mapping of Argentina's kelp forests

In collaboration with Kelpwatch and Más Kelp, our conservation team mapped the underwater kelp forests of Argentine Patagonia. This effort resulted in the creation of maps showing habitat distribution and ecosystem persistence, enabling the calculation of the protected habitat of these forests.

03

Declaration of Patagonia's kelp forests as a matter of national interest, and in four coastal cities of Santa Cruz province

In September 2023, we successfully advocated for the National Parks Administration to declare Patagonia's kelp forests a matter of national interest, promoting their conservation and preservation. We supported this initiative with scientific data collected during our expeditions. Additionally, four coastal cities in Santa Cruz province—Puerto Santa Cruz, Puerto Deseado, Puerto San Julián, and Río Gallegos (the capital of Santa Cruz)—have declared the conservation of kelp forests a matter of municipal interest.

04

Promoting kelp forest conservation as a cultural value in local communities

Every week, our local teams organize a diverse array of activities to bring kelp forests and the marine ecosystem closer to the public. Through sports, art, and educational events for children, teens, and adults, we raise awareness of the wonders of macroalgae and the importance of protecting them.

05

Creation of Monte León MPA in Santa Cruz

In 2023, a treaty to establish the Monte León Marine Protected Area (MPA) was signed between the Provincial Government and the National Parks Administration. In 2024, the creation of the park was approved by provincial law. We are currently advocating for the final step in the process: national legal approval.

06

Tierra del Fuego: A law for the sustainable management of the Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forest has been passed!

In 2023, a treaty to establish the Monte León Marine Protected Area (MPA) was signed between the Provincial Government and the National Parks Administration. In 2024, the creation of the park was approved by provincial law. We are currently advocating for the final step in the process: national legal approval.

In December 2024, the Tierra del Fuego legislature unanimously approved a law aimed at protecting the kelp forest by promoting scientific research and encouraging the sustainable use of the species through regenerative ocean farming.

This is a historic measure on a global scale, demonstrating that local actions can help mitigate the global loss of this ecosystem. It ensures the preservation of one of the world's best-conserved kelp forests and the rich biodiversity it supports.