The Chilean government is in the line of fire. It isbeing accused by local environmentalist groups of hold-ing up a private projectaimed to save a vast tract ofthe virgin rainforests, only toensure the well-being of thenation's flourishing timberand salmon companies, whoare exploiting the land.
The project in centralChile was proposed byDouglas Tompkin, a us businessman turned ecologist,who had envisaged a hugeprivate nature park, stretching over 750,000 acres, partsof which were, to be openedto public, some to be keptvirgin and the rest used forscientific research. But nowhe is being forced to suspendhis plans because the government will not allow him tobuy a piece of land between 2areas he already owns. Thereason given for this is thatthe project would cut thenarrow country into half.The government has nowoffered to buy the remainingland between Tompkin's 2 pieces.
Tompkin, who hasalready sunk us $344 million in the project and spentnearly 4 years designing it isfurious. "What the government is doing is unilaterallyforcing itself on us as anunwanted minority partner," he grumbles.