Leonardo Simón Crisóstomo Loncopán is a Mapuche territorial leader of Kurarewe. He is the President of the Mapuche Association for the Governance of Protected Areas in Curarrehue and coordinator of the ICCA Chile Network. He was a fellow of the Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders program in 2016. In addition to a Bachelor’s in Geographic Sciences from the Catholic University of Temuco, he holds a Certificate in Leadership and Government from the Institute of Training and Development in Massachusetts, a Certificate in Leadership and Land Governance from the International Land Coalition, Youth Program, and was a fellow in Territorial Leadership and Indigenous Youth with the NGO Conservation International.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Territorial Mapping for the Conservation of Protected Areas by Indigenous Peoples

This project aims to understand Indigenous territories from the perspective of cohabiting communities, recognizing the intricate relationships between them and their environment. By leveraging participatory mapping techniques, participants will collaborate with the Mapuche indigenous community to document historic and traditional land use within the Villarrica National Park in Chile. The goal is to generate relevant cartographies that inform management plans and territorial governance in protected areas. Chile’s first Indigenous Conservation Area will be created, emphasizing intercultural dialogue and inclusive conservation policies. Through workshops, geospatial data collection, and community validation, the project will empower Indigenous voices in the co-management of these vital natural spaces.

Leonardo held meetings with the indigenous community and agreed upon dates for fieldwork and collective mapping workshops. They designed the mapping methodology and compiled the necessary geospatial information for mapping the indigenous territory.

“We hope to set a precedent for territorial work in Chile regarding the governance of protected areas and indigenous peoples, and to motivate other indigenous communities to use tools, such as mapping, for their demands.” – Leonardo Loncopan

IVLP Exchange Experience

Leonardo participated in the IVLP Project Indigenous Leadership in Collaborative Management of Protected Areas, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development in partnership with Global Ties Sacramento and Global Ties San Francisco.

Leonardo’s exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award project: “The IVLP was an inspiration when we began to advocate in Chile for the guarantee of our rights as indigenous communities in protected areas. It allowed us to see experiences of dialogue and respect between communities and the government, such as the experience of the Yurok People in California, to whom a few months ago the State of California granted some administration of the National Park.”

U.S. Communities Visited 

Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC

Country: Chile

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