The fight to dam Patagonia is escalating.

As the namesake of our company, the South American region of Patagonia continues to be a powerful inspiration for our business and for us personally. It truly is one of the world’s last unspoiled natural treasures—wild, vast and rich in its unique attributes and biodiversity.

In honor of this landscape’s significance to us, we’ve partnered with Conservacion Patagonica, a non-profit organization dedicated to protection of wildland ecosystems and biodiversity in the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina. Together, we have been working toward the goal of creating Patagonia National Park, a world-class park almost the size of Yosemite National Park in California.

In early 2007, we brought you news of a massive hydroelectric project that would dam two of Patagonia’s wild and pristine rivers, the Baker and the Pascua. The Baker River is the largest remaining wild river in Chile and runs right along the edge of the proposed 650,000-acre Patagonia National Park that we are helping to create. The project also calls for a 1,500-mile chain of huge power-line towers to transmit electricity to the north. The power-line corridor would permanently scar an enormous swath of Chile, and open rivers north of Patagonia up to dam building.

Less destructive alternative energy sources are abundant, and the Chilean government may not fully appreciate the significant tourism revenue opportunities that could be gained by safeguarding the natural grandeur of this spectacular area. We need to encourage them not to dam the rivers.

Toward this end, Patagonia is partnering with International Rivers to try to stop the construction of 5 huge hydroelectric dams in Chilean Patagonia. Starting this week, we’ve been sending out postcards to our mail order customers. The postcards ask The Home Depot to stop doing business with two large Chilean manufacturers of wood products, both of whom are heavily involved in the dams project. We’re asking customers to sign the postcards and drop them in the mail. The cards will go back to International Rivers, who will send them en masse to The Home Depot.

If you do not receive Patagonia mailings but would like to take action, hit this LINK to help keep Patagonia beautiful, via: International Rivers.

The video below vividly showcases the proposed park’s landscape and makes a compelling case for its protection and restoration. It also touches on the environmental threats to the area of the massive proposed hydroelectric project.