Simón Crisóstomo Loncopán

Regional Coordinator for the Southern Cone (On Behalf of Observatorio Ciudadano)

Based in Chile. Simón Crisóstomo Loncopán was born and raised in a Mapuche community in Curarrehue, southern Chile. From an early age, he has been actively involved in community organization and territorial defense processes, taking on community leadership roles since the age of 16. He is a geographer by profession and has specialized in Indigenous geographies, territorial mapping, and the governance of protected areas with Indigenous Peoples.

He is currently a Mapuche leader within the  Asociación de Comunidades Mapuche Winkulmapu, where he is involved in processes related to territorial defense, biocultural conservation, and the strengthening of Mapuche governance in the territory of Curarrehue. He also serves as Territorial Planning Coordinator for the Füta Mawiza Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI).

He is part of the Observatorio Ciudadano team in Chile, within the Biodiversity and Alternatives to Development Programme, and serves as Coordinator of the ICCA Southern Cone Subregion, supporting the coordination and strengthening of Territories of Life and their networks in Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay.