Original article: Los secretos de los bosques marinos del sur de Chile: Inédita expedición explora 1,200 kilómetros para conocer estados de macroalgas Groundbreaking Research Characterizing Southern Chile’s Unexplored Underwater Forests A publication from April 29, 2026, reported that a multidisciplinary team from Chile and around the world, led by Rewilding Chile, has embarked on one of the most ambitious marine investigations in the country: the Patagonia Megatransect. Over six expeditions spanning two years, more than 1,200 kilometers will be surveyed from the Golfo de Corcovado to Cabo de Hornos, aiming to study and protect a little-known ecosystem: the forests of Macrocystis pyrifera, massive algae commonly known as huiro, which can reach heights of up to 80 meters. Macroalgal forests are recognized as one of the most efficient natural carbon sinks on the planet, capable of storing up to 20 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, a crucial function for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Watch video Mathias Hüne, Director of the Marine Program at Rewilding Chile, explained that after the first three expeditions, “it has been confirmed that the fjord and channel ecosystem of Patagonia serves as a global climate refuge for these forests, which have disappeared by as much as 90% in some regions of the world. However, we have detected threats such as the invasive sea anemone Metridium senile, which is rapidly expanding and reducing the habitat for huiro. We even witnessed the disappearance of a forest that had been documented with satellite images just two years ago, placing us in a race against time to protect these valuable ecosystems.

” Using advanced technology to record underwater biodiversity, such as environmental DNA and underwater photo quadrants, scientists are working to characterize species, identify biodiversity hotspots, and measure the capacity of these forests to absorb and store carbon dioxide, known as blue carbon. In total, they will be collecting samples at more than 90 sites, conducting over 180 scientific diving transects, and collecting more than 7,200 underwater photo quadrants that will cover various types of ecosystems, from channels and fjords to islands exposed to the ocean. “It has been confirmed that the fjord and channel ecosystem of Patagonia serves as a global climate refuge for these forests, which have disappeared by as much as 90% in some regions of the world.

However, we have detected threats such as the invasive sea anemone Metridium senile, which is rapidly expanding and reducing the habitat for huiro. We even witnessed the disappearance of a forest that had been documented with satellite images just two years ago, placing us in a race against time to protect these valuable ecosystems. ” Mathias Hüne, Director of the Marine Program at Rewilding Chile Carolina Morgado, Executive Director of Rewilding Chile, stated: “With the Patagonia Megatransect, we seek to gather unique information to understand the ecosystems of macroalgal forests.

The data will be key to advancing conservation projects, because to protect, we must first understand. What we measure here can redefine the role that the sea of Patagonia plays in mitigating climate change. ” The team is currently analyzing data obtained during the initial expeditions, which will be published in various scientific journals and made available through the Global Biodiversity Information System (GBIF), managed in Chile by the Ministry of the Environment.

A Scientific Expedition with Historical Roots Nearly 200 years after the first records made by Charles Darwin aboard the Beagle—and over 50 years after renowned marine ecologist Paul Dayton made the first underwater observations of these forests—a new team of scientists continues this journey inspired by the legendary African Megatransect of renowned explorer National Geographic’s Michael Fay, who contributed to the establishment of a network of national parks in Africa. International partners supporting the initiative include the Ecological Restoration Fund and the Plum Foundation. Along with the scientific team from Rewilding Chile—led by the Marine Program director, Mathias Hüne, along with experts Mauricio Palacios and Jonathan Poblete—various specialists such as Iván Gómez from Universidad Austral; Alejandra Mora from University of Victoria (Canada); Julieta Kaminsky from the Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (Argentina), and Albert Pessarrodona from University of Western Australia are collaborating.

The Patagonia Megatransect aims to generate the scientific evidence necessary to promote the creation of marine protected areas in southern Chile. Each dive, producing thousands of underwater photographs, will build an unprecedented record of one of the most resilient underwater forests on the planet.