This sustainability milestone was achieved in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and the Chilco Foundation.

Viña Concha y Toro welcomed Kate Hughes to its historic park in Pirque, where she conducted a technical visit to evaluate the progress of the first SSC implemented in the country. This space, inaugurated in 2024 alongside RBGE and Fundación Chilco, sets a precedent as the first initiative by a Chilean winery dedicated to the ex situ conservation of threatened native flora.

The Safe Sites for Conservation program was designed to protect Chilean native flora and its associated biodiversity by cultivating and monitoring species classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable, with the goal of preserving their genetic diversity and reducing the risk of extinction.

“Conservation of species is, above all, a collective effort. The Safe Site for Conservation at Viña Concha y Toro’s park is a concrete example of this vision: a collaborative project between the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Chilean organizations, and local companies. This international cooperation demonstrates that working together is essential to achieving successful outcomes in biodiversity conservation,” said Kate Hughes during her visit.

The site safeguards emblematic Chilean plant species, including tamarugo, algarrobo, chañar, naranjillo, Belloto del Sur, and Belloto del Norte, among others. The park’s design was led by renowned Chilean landscape architect Juan Grimm, with advice from Mónica Musalem, founder of the Pumahuida nursery, Bárbara Greene and Josefina Hepp, SSC project coordinators at Fundación Chilco. They selected the species and defined the representation of two key ecosystems: a humid sclerophyll forest, hosting species that require shade and moisture, and an open, sunny spiny forest, where species tolerant to high sun exposure and drought were planted, replicating the natural conditions of these ecosystems.

The SSC program, managed by Fundación Chilco and supported by RBGE, aims to create a network of spaces in Chile that function as living plant and seed banks. These sites allow for the restoration of degraded native populations, generate scientific data for monitoring, and provide educational platforms to raise awareness among visitors and communities about the biodiversity crisis. Fundación Chilco monitors these sites regularly and over the long term to ensure proper plant development and fulfillment of conservation goals.

“One of the most important aspects of the SSC program is collaboration among horticulturists, nurseries, landscape architects, and gardening staff. At Concha y Toro, we have an expert gardening team that has worked closely with us. They are highly involved in the project, know the species well, and take great care of their growth. Their support has been invaluable and is greatly appreciated,” explains Bárbara Greene.

With over 300 years of history, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has evolved from a garden dedicated to medicinal and ornamental plants into an international benchmark for the conservation of threatened species. Chile, with over 46% endemic flora, is a strategic point for the protection of unique species worldwide.

Through this initiative, Viña Concha y Toro reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and the protection of Chile’s natural heritage, transforming its historic Pirque park into a living space for research, education, and biodiversity conservation.