Planet Visionaries – SEASON 5 Planet Visionaries – Ep 2: The Power of the Wild with Kris Tompkins
Nov 4, 2025
Kris Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, is a trailblazing conservationist who has protected 15 million acres across Chile and Argentina. She shares her journey from business leader to land protector, revealing the challenges she faced in gaining public support for her conservation efforts. Kris discusses the importance of rewilding species like jaguars and the ambitious plans to connect habitats across continents. She inspires listeners to take action for conservation, emphasizing that even small efforts can lead to significant change.
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How The Partnership Began
- Kris Tompkins met Doug Tompkins in southern Argentina and soon moved there to join his conservation work.
- They began buying land together in Chile, starting a long journey toward creating protected parks.
Build Organizations That Outlast You
- After loss or setback, get back to work and create durable institutions that outlast individuals.
- Kris insisted teams become independent and funded to ensure continuity after Doug's death.
Leveraging Private Land For Large Parks
- Donating key private lands to governments lets small purchases catalyze much larger protected areas.
- Kris leveraged 2.5 million donated acres to create about 15 million acres of national parks via partnerships.