In June of last year, former clothing entrepreneur Douglas Tompkins of the United States got fed up with the Chilean government’s delays in deciding whether to confer nature-sanctuary status on the huge private park he has assembled in southern Chile. Nor did he enjoy the relentless attacks by opponents ranging from nationalist politicians, who call him a threat to Chile’s sovereignty, to salmon farmers, who claim his 742,000-acre (300,000-hectare) Pumalín Park would straitjacket the local economy. So Tompkins’ office faxed a statement to the Chilean media suggesting he might drop his request for the nature-sanctuary designation, a move that could have ended chances for government involvement in the park’s oversight and protection. The faxes found their mark. The government pledged it... [Log in to read more]