It will always be a short Farewell and a Welcome!
Our dear colleague, Aintzane Cariñanos Ruiz, was an integral part of the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund team between October 2021 & January 2022.
As our Project Coordinator, she supported the logistics, implementation, and coordination of three volunteer groups that carried out conservation projects in the Administration, Italiano Campground, and Laguna Azul sectors of Torres del Paine National Park.
Aintzane, who is originally from Spain, arrived in Chile six years ago as volunteer in Torres del Paine National Park. One short year after her arrival, she began working as a CONAF park ranger in Torres del Paine’s conservation department. There, she led & executed projects in collaboration with other park rangers and external park entities like the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund.
In her time with our team, she supported an array of other Legacy Fund initiatives such as our 1-day monitoring activities with tourists, partnership development, and the sustainable tourism Microgrants project financed by the Intrepid Foundation. Beyond these last few months, Aintzane has actively collaborated with the Legacy Fund and our volunteers for the better part of 3 years.
Fotografía: Romina Manríquez
She brought with her ample experience leading volunteer groups to implement social impact projects, working on environmental efforts in protected areas, and leading initiatives related to environmental heritage, interpretation, and education. She holds environmental degrees from her formal education in Spain, and recently finalized her Technical Degree in Protected Area Management.
Aintzane is a true park ranger at heart. Her passion is to conserve the incredible biodiversity found in Torres del Paine National Park and the Magallanes region, and share her knowledge with visitors, stakeholders, and community actors alike. Through all of the work we carried out together, especially in our fieldwork with volunteers, she showed the importance of recognizing that learning about the Magallanes region’s natural heritage is a continuous process, and one that you must be present to experience.
Over the last three months, I shared, learned, and watched Aintzane Cariñanos Ruiz grow and become empowered through our work together. I saw her make an individual and personal connection with each of the 30 volunteers she worked with – all of whom thanked for her support, teachings, and knowledge.
Fotografía: Diego Cabeza Gainza
Aintzane – thank you for everything you have given, your commitment, your resilience, and your energy. Thank you for being a part of this incredible Legacy Fund & CREST family.
We will continue to work together, as always, and we wish you nothing but the utmost success!
