"El derecho a vivir en un medio ambiente libre de contaminación. Es deber del Estado velar para que este derecho no sea afectado y tutelar la preservación de la naturaleza". Capitulo III, Articulo 19, Sección 8 de la Constitución Chilena.

“The right to live in an environment free from pollution. It is the State’s duty to stand guard so as not to allow this right to be impacted and advocate for the preservation of the environment.” Chapter III, Article 19, Section 8 of the Chilean Constitution.

The Futaleufu River has no governing program that orients or delimits access and use of its water and riverbanks, which constitutes a great threat to the eco-tourism development in this natural setting. The rising price and demand for gold has led to increased mining exploration and exploitation in Patagonia. Canadian Kinross Gold Corporation and US-based Geocom Resources are leading the mining operations in Southern Chile, specifically in the Palena region. Already threatened by Endesa’s future hydroelectric dams and the HidroAysen Project, the Futaleufu continues to be in danger of destruction. FutaFriends works to abolish the environmental abuse caused by large mining corporations and damming projects through community support and sustainable development alternatives.