The unknown millionaire looking to find a wild corner of Patagonia – 03/02/2019

A story that is often repeated is that every time a millionaire puts the spotlight on Argentine Patagonia. He does it because he is moved by all his possible horizons. Some turn to natural resources, others to a lake and a third group is mobilized for conservation and philanthropy. The American citizen Gilbert Butler inscribed in this last archetype. Almost no one knows that he is about to find one of the wildest places in the south of the country. Not to benefit alone, but, according to the national authorities, to have the privilege of visiting all those who wish.

The Perito Moreno National Park is located in the province of Santa Cruz, three hours north of Los Glaciares National Park and near Gobernador Gregores. It is another site of open landscapes, crossed by lakes, pastures and waterfalls and crowned by the beautiful hill of San Lorenzo, a mbad of ice coveted by mountaineers. While thousands of people visit each season to venerate the eternal ice of the glacier, almost no one arrives in this isolated place: 800 travelers per summer, at most, according to official data. A little by the distance; another because there was no infrastructure to visit it until now. But Butler has arrived.

Through its founding Butler Conservation Fund, North America has just revolutionized Patagonia with a $ 3 million donation. The money has been poured into the coffers of the national parks and, as provided by contract, every last cent of the dollar must be used to remake the Perito Moreno Park. For nearly a year, a large group of Argentines, experts in mountaineering and hiking, is working on the reconversion of the site. From sun to sun, they cross the steppe, the lakes, transport materials through this vast geography. They open trails for picking and shoveling, they build bridges to cross rivers and streams, they build shelters so that walkers can sleep there later. The work is supervised by Butler himself and even the chief of staff, Marcos Peña, and his family, came to the site to see the progress.. It's hard work and ground. But well paid.

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Further north, in Bariloche, where most of the young people who go to the area are recruited, they all talk about Butler. As you could confirm Clarin In the same way as temporary workers, North America pays between $ 100 and $ 200 a day, depending on the type of job done. A boat helmsman, for example, can earn 8,000 pesos. "There are children who go to work all month and come back with a hundred thousand pesos, here in the region everyone wants to go to work there, it's difficult, but it's worth it," says a mountain climber who hope to be summoned.

Butler is 81 years old. He has ambaded his fortune in the world of finance and pension funds. He is the founder of Butler Capital Corporation. But he turned his fortune to generate funds for the conservation of the environment. He spent his childhood in Utica, New York, near the western boundary of Adirondack Park. And that, he says, allowed him "An early and lasting appreciation of naturehe taught him how to meditate "The value that natural areas have for society". Very young, he enjoys traveling, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, mountaineering and kayaking. He always does it. He remains energetic, with an enviable physical form, those who know him count.

Last August, Emiliano Ezcurra, Vice President of National Parks, published a photo where he was seen with Butler in full swing. For his contacts on Facebook, it was a presentation of the philanthropist in society. "In several countries, he has pledged to donate an infrastructure of public access to nature.He has so far donated more than 3 million dollars. This generated 55 jobs in two complete seasons, all of whom were from Patagonia, materials, field supplies and tools purchased from hardware stores, carpentry, corralones and super Gregores. The commitment is to donate $ 2 million more for this season, and the thousands of families who will benefit may never know who has helped make this majestic, yet under-visited national park a safe and accessible place. Thank you very much Gilbert !!! ", he wrote.

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Ezcurra, viewed by Clarin, adds: "Several circuits are being created, with different access portals.The locals will be able to walk around and spend the night.Butler wants to be rigorous with the jobs and many of those working there have taken them away. to train in American parks. "Ezcurra, resulting from environmental activism, asks to be demystified. "With millionaires of this type, it sometimes happens that ghosts are attracted, things that are not … With Tompkins (Douglas, American died in 2015, the man who donated more land in Argentina for creating protected areas), for example Butler is in line with what his foundation does in the rest of the world: they have been encouraging recreational activities since childhood.This is why his logo represents people who hike and kayak. "

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Ezcurra's mission is to materialize Butler's donation, which is also consistent with President Macri's speech at the opening of the congress this week. "Last year, we achieved a historic record with the creation of six protected natural areas, including the first two national marine parks," he said. According to Checked.org, the statement is true.

Meanwhile, Butler does not stop. Ezcurra is asked a photo of the tycoon who is kayaking and replies. "As you can see, at his age, it can be eating a lamb with wine and getting up at 6 in the morning to see how work is progressing on each path and pissing off at the other end of the world."