The first protected wilderness area that was created in Chile was Malleco National Reserve in 1907, located in the present region of Araucania. It was the first in South America and third in the continent. In addition to the ninth worldwide.

Chile currently has 96 units, distributed in 33 National Parks, 48 National Reserves and 15 Natural Monuments, which cover a total area of approximately 14 million hectares, equivalent to 19% of the country.

The National Parks are distinguished because all natural resources that exist in them, flora, fauna, water resources, etc.. can not be used for economic purposes, rather they must be protected. Instead, the existing resources in the National Reserves can be used sustainably.

According to its objectives and size, there are three types of protected wilderness areas: National Park, National Reserve and National Monument.

I. National Park

Area generally extensive, diverse environments are unique or representative of the natural biodiversity of the country, not significantly altered by human action, capable of self perpetuating and species of flora and fauna or geological formations have particular educational interest , scientific or recreational.

The objectives are intended to preserve samples of natural environments, cultural and scenic features associated with them, the continuity of evolutionary processes, and to the extent consistent with the above, activities of education, research and recreation.

1. Lauca
2. Volcán Isluga
3. Llullaillaco
4. Pan de Azúcar
5. Llanos de Challe
6. Nevados de Tres Cruces
7. Bosque Fray Jorge
8. La Campana
9. Las Palmas de Cocalán
10. Rapa Nui
11. Arch. Juan Fernández 
12. Laguna del Laja
13. Huerquehue
14. Villarrica
15. Nahuelbuta
16. Tolhuaca
17. Conguillío
18. Puyehue
19. Vicente Pérez Rosales
20. Alerce Andino
21. Chiloé
22. Hornopirén  23. Isla Guamplín
24. Río Simpson
25. Laguna San Rafael
26. Queulat
27. Isla Magdalena
28. Bernardo O´Higgins
29. Torres del Paine
30. Pali Aike
31. Alberto Angostini
32. Cabo de Hornos. 

 
II. National Reserve

Areas whose natural resources should be preserved and used with special a cause of their susceptibility to suffer degradation or its importance in safeguarding the welfare of the community.

The objectives are aimed at the conservation and protection of soils and those threatened species of flora and fauna, to the maintenance or improvement of water production and application of rational technologies for its use.

1. Las Vicuñas
2. Pampa del Tamarugal
3. La Chimba
4. Los Flamencos
5. Pingüino de Humboldt
6. Las Chinchillas
7. Río Blanco
8. Lago Peñuelas
9. El Yali
10. Río Clarillo
11. Río de Los Cipreses
12. Roblería del Cobre de Loncha
13. Laguna Torca
14. Los Ruiles
15. Radal Siete Tazas
16. Federico Albert  17. Altos de Lircay
18. Los Queules
19. Bellotos del Melado
20. Ñuble
21. Isla Mocha
22. Los Huemules de Niblinto
23. Ralco
24. Alto Bío-Bío
25. Malalcahuello
26. Nalcas
27. Malleco
28. Villarrica
29. China Muerta
30. Valdivia
31. Mocho-Choshuenco
32. Llanquihue  33. Lago Palena
34. Futaleufú
35. Lago Rosselot
36. Las Guaitecas
37. Cerro Castillo
38. Coyhaique
39. Trapananda
40. Lago Carlota
41. Lago Las Torres
42. Katalalixar
43. Lago Cochrane
44. Lago Gral. Carrera
45. Lago Jeinimeini
46. Alacalufes
47. Laguna Parrillar
48. Magallanes 

III. Natural Monument

Usually small area, characterized by the presence of native species of flora and fauna or the existence of important geological sites from the standpoint of scenic, cultural or scientific.

Its aim is to preserve the natural environment, cultural, scenic, and the extent consistent with this, develop educational, recreational or research.

1. Salar de Surire
2. La Portada
3. Pichasca
4. Isla Cachagua
5. El Morado  6. Contulmo
7. Cerro Ñielol
8. Alerce Costero
9. Dos Lagunas
10. Cinco Hermanas 

Source: CONAF