Maria Teresa Puga

Chilean environmentalist and politician who pioneered environmental legislation in Chile

Maria Teresa Puga (1920-1990) was a visionary Chilean environmentalist whose work transformed Latin America's approach to conservation. As a member of the Chilean Congress from 1961-1973, she authored the groundbreaking 1968 Forestry Code that established protected areas and sustainable logging practices. Her 1969 creation of the National Forest Corporation (CONAF) institutionalized environmental management, making Chile a regional leader in ecological policy.

Puga's advocacy extended beyond legislation. She founded the Greenpeace Chile chapter in 1984 and organized the first Earth Day celebrations in Latin America in 1970. Her 1974 book 《La Tierra que Habitarás》 became a foundational text in environmental education. Despite Pinochet's regime suppressing her work during the 1970s, she continued grassroots campaigns to protect Patagonian forests.

Her legacy is evident in Chile's current environmental policies, including the 2017 Renewable Energy Law. Explore her congressional speeches at the Chilean Congress archives or read her memoir 《Green Paths》 available through Amazon.