How the revitalization of trails drives sustainable local development

In the Famatina Mountains, management partnerships are driving the transformation of the tourism sector by revitalizing its iconic trails. All the work that goes into installing signage, beyond the beauty of the landscape.

 

What began as a technical improvement project has now become a tangible reality for tourism and local identity. After months of collaborative work, a comprehensive process of trail enhancement was completed, connecting three key points across three departments: the “La Loma” viewpoint in Villa Unión, the “El Calvario” viewpoint in  Alto Jagüé, and the Cerro El Toro archaeological site in Villa Castelli.

This initiative was not merely a cosmetic overhaul; it was a comprehensive renovation aimed at improving traffic flow in accordance with sustainability principles and restoring these paths to their original character. Today, the trails connect geographical points and serve as bridges between history, culture, and the majestic landscape of La Rioja.

The installation of signage along the trails in western La Rioja marks the culmination of months of technical and collaborative work. These signs are not merely infrastructure; they serve as a meeting point between visitors and the rich history of the Famatina Mountains.

 

A process with installed capacity 

How do you design a trail? What should you share about the area, the wildlife, and the people? How do you maintain the facilities? What signs should be placed and where? The project concludes today with the installation of the signage, but behind it lies a long interdisciplinary process that included intensive training for local technicians in trail maintenance, ensuring that the community has the tools to sustain this investment over time.

The revitalization of these areas included intensive training for local technicians and guides on trail maintenance and the design of interpretive experiences. This capacity-building effort ensures that the community has the necessary tools to manage and sustain this heritage over time.

Damián, a local guide at Cerro El Toro, helped design the entire tour experience, including its narrative script, and reflects on the impact of the project: “Working together in this place has been a beautiful experience; this site is unique in the country, and today it lives up to what our visitors deserve.”

A sign begins long before it is installed; it takes shape at the work tables where local knowledge is drawn upon. Local guides, together with specialists, actively participated in creating the narrative script, ensuring that every story along the trails of Cerro El Toro reflects the identity and history of their community.

The sites

“El Calvario” Lookout (Alto Jagüe)

With its breathtaking 360° view, the 230-meter trail now features an interpretive system designed through a collaborative effort. Visitors can appreciate the grandeur of the Famatina mountain range thanks to content that combines local knowledge with technical accuracy.

The “El Calvario” trail is key to understanding high-mountain ecosystems. Its new signage helps visitors understand the geological formation of the Famatina mountain range and the importance of the watersheds that originate in these peaks, which are essential to life in the valleys of La Rioja.

 

Cerro El Toro Archaeological Site (Villa Castelli)

The intervention here was meticulous. Low-impact criteria were applied to protect the archaeological heritage while improving visitor flow. The visitor experience is now more educational and safer, thanks to a narrative that highlights the site’s historical and environmental values. The development of a standardized narrative was included to train the site’s guides. A place to discover the heart of La Rioja’s culture, in quiet harmony with nature. Furthermore, as this is a provincial archaeological site, the intervention was carried out with the authorization, collaboration, and assistance of the province’s Undersecretariat of Heritage and Museums.

At this provincial archaeological site, the project was carried out in accordance with strict low-impact conservation guidelines to protect highly sensitive pre-Hispanic structures. By managing visitor traffic, soil erosion and the deterioration of cultural remains are prevented. The work ensures that the experience is educational, safe, and, above all, respectful of the natural environment.

 

“La Loma” Lookout – Villa Unión.

The comprehensive renovation of this interpretive trail is the result of an exemplary collaboration between the municipality, educational institutions, and Fundación Naturaleza Argentina, successfully enhancing this iconic site. Beyond the infrastructure improvements, the trail’s redesign now fosters a deep connection with the surroundings; the new narrative guides visitors through the landscape, revealing the cultural value and biodiversity that make this site a source of pride for the local community. With this transformation, “La Loma” has established itself as an open classroom in nature and a privileged vantage point for understanding the region’s identity.

This interpretive trail was designed on the premise that the Famatina Mountains not only frame the landscape but also “embrace” the community through their many resources. Along its four viewing platforms, the new signage invites visitors on a journey of discovery: from the historical and cultural richness of the first rest stop, through the vital importance of water resources and the valley’s productive power, to the breathtaking scenic beauty of the summit.

 

A collective achievement 

This revival of the trails is the result of a broad strategic partnership involving municipalities, various organizations, tourism providers, and local communities. This collaborative and interdisciplinary effort underscores the project’s success.

“These are spaces designed to help us learn more about our mountain ranges, their history, their natural environment, and the relationship we have with these areas. It’s an initiative we’ve worked hard on to highlight the value of these landscapes,” says Andrés Baissero, a specialist at the Fundación Natura Argentina.

The revitalization of the Famatina Mountains thus serves as a model for sustainable tourism: a responsible approach that not only invites visitors to admire the landscape but also to experience it with respect, awareness, and a deep sense of belonging. This is just one part of a broader process for tourism in western La Rioja: the development of a vibrant, well-maintained destination ready to be discovered.

 

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Glaciers at Risk: Why changes to the law weaken water protection in Argentina

By María Laura Carrizo Morales

Glaciers and periglacial environments are ecosystems of great biological and environmental value, serving as freshwater reservoirs, climate regulators, and the backbone of numerous regional economies throughout the western part of our country.

The Argentine Constitution stipulates that the federal government must establish minimum standards for environmental protection (Art. 41), ensuring uniform standards throughout the country. This regulation has a clear rationale: to protect the natural resources that belong to all of us and that know no provincial boundaries or borders. 

In arid regions, glaciers act as natural water regulators, making it possible for agricultural oases to thrive in the middle of the desert. These ice masses feed watersheds that support the cultivation of walnut trees and grapevines, which are key drivers of the local economy.

The Glacier Law, enacted amid social struggles, has established itself as an exemplary international standard and a model for social action and participation. The Executive Branch’s proposed amendment seeks, through various strategies, to weaken this environmental regulation, and this weakening does not entail a simple legislative reform, but rather an alteration of the rules that protect water, an essential resource for the sustainability and development of present and future generations.

The proposed amendment weakens the protection system established by the Glacier Law, as it seeks, among other things, allow local authorities to determine which glaciers or periglacial areas should be protected based on the criterion of hydrological relevance, disregarding other essential criteria such as water regulation, ecosystem functions, and scientific and social value (Art. 3).  This decision also deviates from the technical and scientific criteria established in the Glacier Inventory prepared by the competent federal technical agency, the Argentine Institute of Snow Science, Glaciology, and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA). In this way, it violates the entire uniform environmental protection system established in Article 41 of our National Constitution.

Meltwater rivers depend directly on the health of glaciers to maintain their flow during dry seasons. Without this constant supply of fresh water, the regional fruit-growing and wine-producing economies of western Argentina would collapse due to a lack of water for human and industrial use.

Furthermore, as indicated in the proposed Article 4,  this opens the door for provinces to make arbitrary decisions without technical or scientific basis, as they are permitted to deviate from IANIGLA’s recommendations

Furthermore, the proposed Article 5 modifies the absolute prohibition on activities that could alter their natural condition, or the functions of strategic water resource reserves, their integrity, or their ecosystem function, among others: a) The release, dispersion, or disposal of pollutants, chemicals, or waste of any nature or volume (…); b) The construction of architectural or infrastructure works, with the exception of those necessary for scientific research and risk prevention; c) Mining and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation (…); d) The establishment of industries or the development of industrial works or activities. The application of this article is subject to the determination of the provinces, thereby eliminating the general prohibition, making clear the need to move forward with extractive projects in areas that are currently protected.  

The Famatina River is home to debris glaciers that act as natural water regulators, enabling the existence of agricultural oases in the middle of the La Rioja desert. These ice masses feed watersheds that support the cultivation of walnut trees and grapevines, which are key drivers of the local economy.

This amendment comes amid climate change, a context in which glaciers play a fundamental role in water regulation, and any rollback of the protection levels achieved would undermine the international commitments made in this area. 

The mountain provinces face profound and structural economic challenges. However, framing development exclusively in terms of extractive industries overlooks other sustainable productive alternatives that depend, precisely, on water conservation: regional economies, agriculture, tourism, local production, and activities that sustain entire communities. These are development alternatives that prioritize social, economic, and environmental sustainability. 

At Natura Argentina, we work in regions threatened by large-scale mining: La Rioja, Catamarca, Mendoza, and Salta are just a few of the regions seeking to overcome the false dichotomy between environmental protection and development, and which hold endless possibilities for sustainable social, economic, and environmental development. Protecting water is not an obstacle to growth; it is what makes growth possible.

This legislative setback also represents a major step backward for collective agreements on water management and a blow to regional economies that rely heavily on water.

Under these circumstances, the proposed amendment to the Glacier Law is unconstitutional and illegal; it reduces current protections and undermines the system of minimum standards.

It is illegitimate, as it lacks the necessary scientific and social consensus. Above all, it entails a number of serious risks not only to the current and future security of the water supply for human consumption, but also to the sustainability of regional economies. The protection of glaciers is not a sector-specific issue; it is a decision regarding the development model and the present and future guarantees of the right to water.

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The water, the silence and the hills: the childhoods of Ambato tell what makes its territory unique

More than 300 students from schools in Pomán, Saujil, Capayán, and Huillapima participated in an educational and community process to recognize the natural and cultural values of the Sierras de Ambato. Through the Exploratory Guide and the collective creation of the book “Me contó un pajarito” (A little bird told me), the children shared their views on the water, the hills, the fauna, and the customs that make this territory their home.

During 2024, we carried out activities  training and awareness-raising activities with educational communities, as part of the Sierras de Ambato conservation project, with the valuable participation of educational communities from the municipalities of Pomán, Saujil, Mutquín, Capayán, and Huillapima, in the province of Catamarca.

Using an Exploration Guide, we worked with more than 300 students from eight elementary and secondary schools. This guide was designed as an educational tool that helped us recognize the conservation values of the area through the eyes of children and identify safe and valuable places for the community as a whole.

During meetings at schools, we listened to their voices on issues that affect them: the importance of water, trees, hills, animals, and local customs. We also worked on the threats they recognize in their environment, such as garbage, fires, hunting, and deforestation.

The children clearly identified the conservation values that shape their identity and quality of life:

  • Silence,
  • Peace of mind,
  • The river and the spa as meeting places,
  • Medicinal plants,
  • Wildlife and
  • The water that flows down from the hill and gives life to everything.

The voices and perspectives of children were included in the surveys and management plans for the reserves, so that their feelings would also be part of the decisions about the territory. Incorporating their participation is a way of democratizing the construction of protected areas, understanding that caring for and thinking about these spaces is a task that involves us as a community.

Children from the community played a leading role in the process of creating the Protected Areas. Using exploration guides, they explored the territory with curiosity, observing, drawing, and recording the landscapes, plants, and animals that are part of their daily lives.

 

To conclude this process, we present a book of short stories entitled: “A little bird told me. A story to discover the Sierras de Ambato.”

“This book is yours. Because your words and dreams are helping to protect the Ambato Mountains, so that they will always remain what you and your friends dreamed they would be.”

 

This book brings together stories created by children, narrated by Taruca and Monterita Serrana, two characters who invite readers to dream, explore, and care for these unique landscapes. It is a tribute to what new generations think, feel, and desire for the mountains where they live.

Children bring a unique sensitivity: they observe what adults sometimes fail to see, marvel at everyday things, and find beauty in the small details of the natural environment. Their perspective reminds us that nature is not only to be studied or managed, but also to be felt, listened to, and inhabited with respect and curiosity.

This process left us with lessons learned and a collective commitment to preserve what makes these mountains so special. Most importantly, it left us with the certainty that children’s voices have a lot to say about the future of our territories.

He was an important pillar in the creation, management, and design of the protected areas of the mosaic of municipal nature reserves in the Sierras de Ambato. Each nature reserve is closely linked to the knowledge shared by children, who are the ones who will continue to enjoy their natural and cultural environment in the future.

You can download the book, or listen to the animated version on YouTube.

The Exploration Guide is also available: complete it, and continue accompanying Monterita Serrana and Taruca on their adventures through the Ambato Mountains!

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Where water teaches how to live

At the northern end of Mar Chiquita Lagoon, the communities of Los Porongos, El Huaico, and Limache coexist in more than a million hectares of water, salt, and wildlife. Among mud houses, migratory birds, and ancestral knowledge, a story of resilience, hospitality, and community conservation is being written.

During 2025, Natura Argentina carried out a project for social strengthening based on the Dialogue of Knowledge. This approach recognizes that both scientific knowledge and ancestral local knowledge are fundamental to effective conservation. Through this community process, the residents of Los Porongos shared and highlighted the Living Knowledge that defines their relationship with the land, which is essential for survival and sustainable resource management. Thus, we discovered that there is knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation, such as working with wool or the art of building mud homes, all in deep communion with the environment.

Living knowledge is knowledge that is created and recreated in the present. It arises from the encounter between everyday experience and collective memory, and is transformed with every practice, every landscape, and every conversation. At Natura Argentina, we understand it as a bridge: a dialogue between local knowledge and science, where each perspective enriches the other and helps us to better care for the territories we share. Photo: Mateo Lona for Natura Argentina.

 

The value of water

In this vast territory, the collection of rainwater in each home, taking into account periods of abundance and scarcity of this vital resource, demonstrates an understanding of the rhythms of nature, but also its sustainable use and reduced dependence on river water.

Photo: Mateo Lona for Natura Argentina.

 

The silent mammals

Trap cameras, always placed with the permission of local families, were used to record local wildlife. Among the surprises was the mountain fox, a species that is not often seen.

Awetland view

The guidance and support of the community, together with the technical expertise of the team and the censuses led by nature photographer and tourism technician Ramiro Ramirez, were key to obtaining the surprising result that in this place it is possible to observe 47% of the birds registered in Santiago del Estero.

School as the center

Foto: Mateo Lona para Natura Argentina.

In Los Porongos, the rural school is much more than just a place for classes. It is the community’s meeting point and, often, the place where everything happens. Children of different ages share the classroom and everyday life, and projects are built together.

A collective mural inspired by the fauna and the nearby lagoon was created in this space. It was painted on one of the walls, as a kind of reminder that the school is also part of the landscape.

Living, working, and being part of the community

Working in this region is very challenging: extreme heat, salty wind, lack of water at certain times of the year. But when the team arrives at each house, the families welcome them with a kindness that dispels any difficulties. Mate, conversation, baked cakes, time spent together: all of this builds a bond that makes the work easier and allows for a better understanding of what life is like in a wetland like this.

Foto: Mateo Lona para Natura Argentina.

The work in Los Porongos is essential, as the Bañados del Río Dulce wetlands are critically important for conservation, retaining and storing fresh water that is essential for wildlife, human consumption, and production. In addition, the Bañados play an important and large-scale role in addressing global warming, climate change, and habitat degradation.

 

 

A process that keeps moving forward

The work in Los Porongos does not end with a workshop or a trip. Each visit raises new questions and opens up new forms of collaboration. Just as wetlands store water so that life can continue, the community stores stories and knowledge that help us think about how to care for the land in the future.This process is just that: a shared path, built little by little, with listening and respect. And as long as dialogue remains open, conservation also has a future.

 

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The magic of Cerro El Toro: an archaeological paradise rediscovered along its trails

Among the Famatina Mountains in La Rioja stands Cerro El Toro, a mountainous formation named for its resemblance to a charging bull.  Its dark purple color and imposing presence catch the attention of those who arrive in Villa Castelli, but what makes it unique goes far beyond its landscape: here, the vestiges of an ancient civilization coexist with the biodiversity of an exceptional natural environment, protected under the Cerro El Toro Cultural Nature Reserve.

Today, thanks to a plan to refurbish and revalue traditional trails promoted by the Municipality of General Lamadrid, this site is reopening to the world with renewed vigor. The municipality made the decision and invested in the enhancement, and later Natura Argentina and the Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Province of La Rioja joined in to work on the recovery of the trails. This collective initiative also included the participation of the local community and specialists in archaeology and conservation.

Due to its invaluable cultural legacy, it was declared a Provincial Historic Monument in 1985 under Law No. 4565. Likewise, due to its outstanding biodiversity, it also obtained the distinction of Provincial Natural Monument. In 2008, the municipal ordinance passed declares this entire area as the Cerro El Toro Cultural Nature Reserve. In addition, the Reserve is governed by National Law No. 25,743 on the Protection of Archaeological and Paleontological Heritage, and Provincial Law No. 6,589 on the Regulation and Control of Archaeological, Urban Archaeological, Paleontological, Anthropological, and Historical Cultural Heritage in the Province of La Rioja. Its dark purple color and imposing presence catch the attention of those who arrive in Villa Castelli, but what makes it unique goes far beyond its landscape: here, the vestiges of an ancient civilization coexist with the biodiversity of an exceptional natural environment, protected under the Cerro El Toro Cultural Nature Reserve. /Enzo Ellero

Renovate to preserve and discover

The project began with a need: heavy rains were causing soil loss on every slope, putting traffic and the conservation of the site at risk. The work was meticulous: stones were rearranged, edges were reinforced, and techniques that respect the landscape as much as possible were applied.

It is located 6 km from the town of Villa Castelli, at kilometer 154 of National Route No. 76, on the eastern slopes of the Sierras de Famatina. It is 34 km from Villa Unión and 35 km from Vinchina. The route is in excellent condition and, upon entering the Reserve, the road is gravel and accessible by vehicle. /Enzo Ellero

Andrés Baissero is a technician at Natura Argentina and explains part of this process while pointing out elements of the landscape: time was spent analyzing what had been done in this place, how people in the area use it, and what could be improved from a sustainable tourism perspective. “Everything was done in multidisciplinary teams. Previous archaeological studies were respected, but a new and collaborative narrative was developed, which was constructed together with Proyecto Ambiental, specialists in the field. All the local guides also participated,” he summarizes.

Rocío Cardona is also a technician on this Natura Argentina project. The technical team not only contributed their knowledge, but also actively participated in the work journeys, which were joined by municipal and provincial workers and student volunteers. They enthusiastically tell us that they even worked in the rain and snow. The result is low-impact trails that respect the original layout from an archaeological perspective, but with corrections to prevent erosion from rain, among other details.

“We moved material from other areas and then built the trails. Now the intervention seems minimal, almost imperceptible,” explains Rocío, pointing to the little path that climbs the mountain.

The process was supported by previous archaeological studies, which served as the basis for defining each intervention. In addition, two interpretive trails were designed, with the script developed in collaboration with the Environmental School and local guides. /Natura Argentina

 

This does not mean that the trails do not require maintenance, nor that they do not involve the deployment of local resources to ensure an interesting experience for visitors. In fact, the process also included training technicians in trail refurbishment, leaving the community with the capacity to sustain this work over time. Damián, the guide accompanying us today, shows us the route and concludes: “Working together in this place has been wonderful. This site is unique in the country and can be visited in our department.” The refurbishment not only improved the trail’s accessibility, but also restored its ancestral character: a path that links the past and the present.

Damián, local guide: “Visitors will find here the history of the Aguada culture, remnants of their homes, their enclosures, the rock art they left us to understand their worldview and the importance of this place.” /Natura Argentina

 

A landscape that preserves culture and wildlife

Cerro El Toro is much more than just a natural setting. Between 770 and 1400 AD, populations linked to Argentino lived here, identified by the “Aguada” ceramic style, which occupied different territories in northwestern Argentina. Their mark is still recognizable in the stone dwellings, the architecture that blends in with the hill, and the petroglyphs of jaguars and human figures.

Aguada rock art consisted of figures and drawings carved into stone using the technique of chipping and scraping. Among the petroglyphs with anthropomorphic motifs (representations of humans and animals), three figures can be seen wearing an unku (a fine woven Andean tunic) with jaguar spots. These rock art manifestations were part of the ritual and religious belief system of the groups or individuals who lived there, shared by most societies in the Valliserrana region.

The Reserve also boasts extraordinary natural wealth: from the Andean Condor to the Famatina Tail-less Lizard, a microendemic species exclusive to the region.

Walking along these trails is like immersing yourself in the daily life of those who inhabited these mountains: seeing the homes that sheltered families, discovering the ancestral engravings that were part of rituals, and appreciating the mountain range from a unique perspective. Damián left us here for a moment, asking us to pause, and in that shared silence, we were able to understand the beauty of the place. You have to come here, treat yourself to a break in front of the mountain range, and experience it.

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How to visit

Cerro El Toro is a Provincial Historical and Natural Monument, and can be visited with a certified local guide. Guided tours can be requested at the General Lamadrid Municipal Tourism Office.

Here, among hills that resemble mythological animals, petroglyphs that tell stories, and landscapes that transform with every ray of sunlight, visitors discover that the true magic of this place lies not only in what can be seen, but also in what has been preserved thanks to collective effort.

This Natural and Cultural Reserve has a visitor center equipped with services such as accessible bathrooms, internet, hot water, tourist information, and a cultural market that today gives visibility to local crafts with product sales and a recreation area.

What can you do?

  • Trekking and hiking
  • Archaeological site
  • Flora observation
  • Wildlife observation
  • Panoramic views

Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rates: Admission prices can be consulted by calling: 3804 865393 / 3825 573602 / 3804 864800. According to municipal ordinance No. 178/21, visitors must be accompanied by a tour guide to enter this archaeological heritage site. To reserve a guided tour, please call the tourist information office.

 

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Key Species Conservation Program in the Famatina Mountains

An agreement to protect local biodiversity.

 

In March 2025, we concluded a new stage of research on the fauna of the Sierras de Famatina. This conservation program is based on an inter-institutional agreement to accompany students and scientists in the study of key species in the region. We focus on four lines of research centered on emblematic and priority animals of the sierras, in a joint work between the National University of La Rioja (UNLaR), the Andean Cat Alliance (AGA), Natura Argentina and Soledad de Bustos, a taruca researcher from the NOA delegation of the National Parks Administration (APN).

 

 

We worked with the taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), one of the most emblematic species of the area. Other species chosen were the puma (Puma concolor), the Andean cat(Leopardus jacobita), the wild cat(Leopardus geoffroyi) and the pajonal cat (Leopardus colocolo). Credit: Mathis Jacob Dunner.

 

We conducted three camera trap installation and removal campaigns, and took indirect samples through transects. We complemented this work with three campaigns of interviews with local people, which gave us valuable insights into the relationship between communities and wildlife.

 

Mina Delina, a natural setting and key to conservation

Most of these campaigns took place in Mina Delina, within the General Felipe Varela Department. There, we sought to know the distribution and diversity of threatened medium and large mammals, with special focus on recording their presence and threats.

The fourth and last campaign of this first stage was carried out in Mina Delina, located in the Department of General Felipe Varela, with the objective of learning about the distribution and diversity of threatened medium and large mammals in the region. A landscape where nature and human activity have historically coexisted opens the way to remote corners where wildlife still lives in peace. Credit: Natura Argentina.

During the campaigns, more than 20 camera traps installed since September 2024 were removed. These captured more than 300,000 images, a great source of information that allows us to tell a detailed story of the local fauna and its dynamics.

 

Science, local knowledge and collective construction

The lines of research included interviews in local communities to add to the field surveys popular knowledge of distribution, cultural perceptions and possible conflicts between human activities and wildlife. These conversations are fundamental for designing strategies that not only protect species, but also integrate people and their knowledge into conservation processes. Many times, these interviews provide information that the research teams cannot gather with the proposed methodology. In this way, we incorporated an action-research approach that enriches our work and allows access to knowledge that often escapes traditional methodologies.

The research included interviews with local communities in order to learn about their perceptions of the fauna and its relationship with the environment.

Another contribution was the situational models for key species, elaborated using the methodology proposed by the Open Standards for Conservation, which allowed us to identify a ranking of specific threats. From there, we can design strategies to effectively address them. This work was part of the basis for the master’s thesis of Sofía Antonena, a Natura Argentina collaborator, who explored conservation values and threats in the Sierras with the guidance of the team and input from local stakeholders.

 

Towards community-based conservation

The data and knowledge obtained are an opportunity to develop a more inclusive conservation approach that actively involves communities in the protection of their environment and strengthens a positive link with nature. Among the species recorded during the campaigns were not only large priority mammals, but also charming species such as mountain vizcachas, foxes, skunks and a wide variety of birds.

During the campaign, more than 20 camera traps, installed in September 2024, were removed and captured more than 300,000 photos, providing valuable information about the local fauna.

These conversations provide key information on local knowledge, the cultural and ecological value of species, and potential conflicts or tensions between human activities and wildlife. This is only the beginning. The Famatina Sierras hold secrets that only time, teamwork and respect for the mountain will reveal.

 

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Municipal reserves in progress: a powerful strategy in the Sierras de Ambato

The management plans for the mosaic of municipal reserves in Catamarca were launched. A key step to strengthen conservation with identity and territorial roots.

 

Between May 5 and 9, Natura Argentina accompanied one of the most important milestones in municipal environmental planning in our country: the participatory process for the preparation of the Management Plans of three Municipal Nature Reserves that make up the Mosaic of Reserves of the Sierras de Ambato, in Catamarca.

This mosaic, composed of the reserves of Huillapima, Saujil and Capayán, not only represents a territorial conservation strategy, but also a concrete experience of intermunicipal articulation with strong citizen participation. Together, they form a biological and cultural corridor that protects biodiversity, local memory and living identities.

During five days, community activities, technical workshops and institutional seminars were held in different locations: Concepción, Los Ángeles, Saujil and Chumbicha. There, the general guidelines of the management plans were shared and the first steps of a common roadmap for each of the protected areas were collectively constructed.

Participatory workshop in Concepción (Huillapima). Residents, councilors and authorities debated the future of the reserve.

 

The participatory election of the names of the reserves was one of the most symbolic moments of the week. From now on, the mosaic will be made up of the Municipal Nature Reserve “El Manchao” (Saujil), the Municipal Nature Reserve “Mogote de la Cruz” (Huillapima) and the Municipal Nature Reserve “Los Capayanes” (Capayán).

This process is deeply aligned with Natura Argentina’s management model, which combines technical work, sustainable production, citizen participation, socio-environmental linkages and the design of regulatory and financial tools to guarantee the sustainability of each project.

Technical meeting in the Municipality of Saujil. Institutional dialogue for the implementation of the management plan.

In the territory of the Sierras de Ambato, this translates into an approach that includes from the survey of conservation values to the sharing with the communities about the uses and meanings of the territory. The information gathered through the initial diagnoses makes it possible to design plans that not only protect biodiversity, but also respect and support traditional livelihoods.

The planning of these areas is based on a conservation vision integrated with the community. The meetings held during the week demonstrated the local commitment to the future of the territory: from officials and councilors to schools, firefighters and community media were actively involved in the activities.

A key example was the meeting in Chumbicha, where the community collectively decided the name of the new reserve “Los Capayanes”, in homage to the history and cultural legacy of the territory. This decision reinforces the symbolic value and sense of belonging that conservation can generate when it is built with the people.

Election of the name of the Los Capayanes Reserve in Chumbicha. Residents from several localities participated.

 

In addition to the participatory work, the week included technical training for the municipal teams and for representatives of Mutquín, which is developing its own protected area proposal. These spaces strengthen local capacities and create new possibilities for expanding the model.

Training for the Mutquín team. Transfer of tools for a future municipal reserve.

Natura Argentina conceives protected areas as spaces that should generate public value, and therefore promotes transparency, access to information and participation in all stages of the process. In Ambato, this is reflected in every open meeting, every shared map, every collective decision.

The socio-environmental linkage is also present in the proposals for articulation with the educational system, which will be a central part of the development of the plan in the coming months. Activities with local schools and training proposals for teachers and students are already being planned.

In the future, the Management Plan being designed for the Ambato Mosaic will seek to become a concrete, applicable tool with a strong local identity, capable of balancing environmental conservation, sustainable production and community strengthening.

With this initiative, Catamarca is taking a fundamental step towards a model of inclusive environmental governance rooted in the territory. Natura Argentina will continue to follow this path, convinced that reserves are much more than natural areas: they are living spaces where a common future is being built.

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Lucila Castro: science, leadership, and commitment to conservation

Since its creation, Natura Argentina has worked to protect ecosystems through protected areas and work with local communities. Its president is a biologist, researcher and conservation leader, and has dedicated her career to protecting nature from the ground up. In this interview, Lucila Castro reviews her career, the challenges of conservation in the country and the key role of local communities in protecting the environment.

 

How did the idea of founding Natura Argentina come about and what were the first steps to make it happen?

More than ten years ago I was working for an NGO called Pacific Biodiversity Institute, dedicated to conservation and research. I met many people, both nationally and internationally, who were working in conservation. We decided, among a group of friends, to found an NGO dedicated to the protection of our territory through a key tool: protected areas.I formed a team of professionals, initially focused on biology, and then we expanded it to other areas, understanding the complexity of the conservation field. This is how we became what we are today: a consolidated group of professionals from different disciplines, focused on science, conservation, finance, politics and socio-environmental aspects.

What do you think was the organization’s greatest achievement so far?

I could mention two achievements. The first has to do with Natura Argentina itself: the fact that it exists in the center of the country, consolidated and constantly improving, is an enormous achievement. The foundation has managed to address complex conservation issues with an interdisciplinary approach and a highly qualified team.The second achievement is the creation of the Ansenuza National Park. For me, being from Miramar, it was a great responsibility to work on such a project. I went through it from several angles: as a local, looking for the best for this territory; as a professional, since I studied the flamingos of Mar Chiquita; and as a representative of one of the institutions that helped create the park. We still have the implementation stage, but to know that, after more than seven years of work, the park is a reality is a source of pride.

Born in Rosario (Santa Fe, Argentina), Lucila Castro lived most of her life in Miramar de Ansenuza. From there, she became a driving force behind the creation of Ansenuza National Park.

Why do you choose to work with people living in the territories?

Working with local communities is the basis for everything that follows: conservation strategies, fundraising, team building. It was not a decision planned from the beginning, but we built it as we understood that all conservation decisions have an impact on people’s lives. What began as an incipient idea is now an institutional policy: the final decisions must come from those who live in the territories. Furthermore, strong changes in conservation must come from a mobilized society. We can propose ideas, but they must be built together with the communities.

How was your training in the field of conservation?

I am a biologist, graduated from the National University of Córdoba. I am proud to have been educated at a public university that gave me so much and marked my career. I was always in search of new experiences: in college I got involved in all the professorships in which I could help, I collaborated in the museum of my town and I started working in conservation from an academic approach. I had the opportunity to study abroad, doing internships at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, doing research on the jaguar. Then I worked at the International Society for Salt Lake Studies, which gave me a global view on conservation. All this allowed me to understand the importance of articulating science and management to implement conservation policies.

She is part of the High Andean Flamingo Conservation Group and the IUCN Connectivity and Conservation Specialist Groups, promoting scientific and community articulation in the protection of key ecosystems.

How was the selection process for the international scholarships you won?

I applied for and was selected for two international fellowships. The first one was for the training of conservation leaders worldwide, Kinship Conmservation Fellows. Hundreds of people applied and only 18 were selected from 13 countries. It was a month of intensive training, sharing with other young conservation leaders.

The second fellowship was the Boundless Fellowship, focused on conservation leaders in the Americas.

You were selected to be part of the board of the World Land Trust. What are your expectations for this position?

Yes, this year I was also selected to be part of the board of the World Land Trust, one of the most important NGOs worldwide. It is the first time that someone young, female and Latina participates in the decision making process of this organization. I think I will be able to learn a lot, and bring some of the change that the conservation world needs.

What is the biggest learning you could share with those who want to go into conservation?

After having traveled a lot and having listened to professionals from all over the world, I think I can say that conservation must be done with and from local communities. They are the ones who live in the territories and will benefit from the protected areas. Our academic perspective is valuable, but it must be articulated with traditional knowledge in order to generate effective public policies.

As a member of the World Land Trust Board, Lucila Castro brings her experience in conservation and protected areas to promote protection strategies at the international level. She is the first South American to be part of this decision-making space.

Environmentalism can be a difficult field, it seems like a constant struggle. How do you do, how do we do, to keep working and not let ourselves be defeated by pessimism?

The world of conservation, the race we are in, I don’t know about pessimism, but it’s tough. Every day there is a new battle. But it nurses me to work with passionate professionals, who challenge you to change your approach, to think differently, the environment I surround myself with keeps me inspired. And it also serves me well to celebrate the small accomplishments, that’s important too: from a workshop that goes well to an animal sighting in a camera trap or something big like the creation of a national park. We need to continue building these support networks to address the most important issues together. Those networks are the ones that make you want to continue. Finally, when we see that something worked, it’s all worth it.

A specialist in population ecology and conservation, she has participated in research and lectures on wetlands in countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

What can Natura Argentina contribute to the country’s environmental crisis?

For some years now, I have been asking myself all the time why we are the way we are and where we are going, not only as a country, but also as humanity. One thing I see is that there is a complete dissociation between our daily life, our society, and nature. We cannot see ourselves as part of a whole and that we are what we are because of nature: the air we breathe, the water we drink, what we eat. On a day-to-day basis we forget about our connection to nature, we take it for granted, and that disconnect grows bigger and bigger. Thus, we end up seeing environmentalists on one side and society on the other. I believe that until we heal that primary relationship with nature, we will not be able to achieve great changes, not only in the environment, but at all levels.

Protected areas, the tool we have chosen to do conservation, seek precisely that: to unite conservation, dialogue in the territory and sustainable production, and remind us that we are part of a whole. But until we resolve this disconnection as humanity, we will not be able to get very far. At Natura Argentina we propose protected areas as a small step towards this goal. We still have a long way to go. Argentina faces many environmental problems: deforestation, pollution, unregulated tourism. Natura Argentina chose protected areas as a tool to organize the territory and promote sustainable productive activities. The creation of protected areas, for example, in one of the NGO’s projects in Catamarca, helps us mainly to conserve the forests of these mountains, and with them all the species. Now we are working on its implementation so that the communities can live off these territories, not only because they breathe clean air and have clean water, but also because they can promote the sale of regional products and develop their activities. We see how they proudly show us everything they have, everything they can achieve with coordinated actions. It is essential to work together, from the local, provincial and national levels, looking at the country as a whole, but without forgetting the importance of the decisions made at the local level, which have a direct impact on people’s lives.

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Environmental education in the Sierras de Famatina: an experience of conservation and connection

In the heart of the Famatina Sierras, together with Natura Argentina and the municipalities of Chilecito and General Lamadrid, we conducted a survey of trails in search of answers: is it necessary to open new trails to get to know the mountain?

Thus, we traveled 92 km along 17 traditional trails used for recreation and sports, valuing their role in conservation and connecting people with nature. These routes provide access to unique landscapes, sites where there is a great biocultural diversity, the trails lead us to essential territories for environmental education and awareness.

To enrich the experience, we invited educator Cynthia Dabul and park ranger Joaquín Piedrabuena from Proyecto Ambiental Escuela, who coordinated participatory workshops with more than 70 people from the tourism sector. Participants created interpretive narratives for the trails, focusing on water, fauna, medicinal plants, and local history, which will be translated into interpretive signage.

In addition, national park rangers Lucas Fonzo and Javier Lucotti led practical workshops on trail design and maintenance, strengthening local capacities to preserve these trails as conservation tools.

In this article we would like to invite you to retrace that journey, to discover the magic and power of mountain trails, and how they can change people’s lives, leading them to discover nature.

Spaces of discovery: how trails can become a territory for environmental education
In addition to their practical function, trails are spaces where people have the opportunity to connect with nature, to walk through it and to discover it. They allow locals and tourists to learn about the importance of conserving regional ecosystems, promoting outdoor recreational activities. The trails have the potential to become tools for environmental education and awareness-raising about the places they invite visitors to explore.

In addition to their practical function, trails are spaces where people have the opportunity to connect with nature.

 

But trails are also fragile: they are bare soil, a kind of scar on the skin of the landscape, so it is important that they are sustainable. Without proper design and maintenance, they can become a problem for the conservation of soil, vegetation and the natural ecosystem.

In the heart of the Sierras de Famatina, La Rioja, Natura Argentina, together with the municipalities of Chilecito and Gral. Lamadrid, has had an experience that teaches us some ideas about the effectiveness of proposals to revalue these spaces and make them available for conservation.

To begin this task, we asked ourselves: is it necessary to open new trails to get to know the mountains?

We hiked miles of mountain to understand the trails, their possibilities and threats, from their traces.

 

That concern mobilized us to survey 17 trails, paths and trails throughout the length and breadth of the Sierras de Famatina, covering more than 92 kilometers from June to December 2023. Many of these areas are traditionally used for recreation, sports, and other activities.

The trails offer access to unique places, cultural and natural heritage, incredible views, and unforgettable experiences.

The surveys allowed us to make informed decisions to collaborate with the municipalities in the maintenance and readjustment of some of these places, accompanying them with environmental education and heritage interpretation tools.

The trails lead to territories full of imaginary of the past, present and future of the mountain.

 

One trail, many stories…

Cynthia Dabul and park ranger Joaquín Piedrabuena, from Proyecto Ambiental Escuela, an environmental education school and consulting team specialized in connecting people with nature as a strategy for social transformation.

Together with them, we organized face-to-face workshops in both locations, where more than 70 people linked to tourism participated. The purpose was to share heritage interpretation tools, so that participants could learn techniques that would enrich the experience of visitors, helping them to create a meaningful connection with the environment.

During the workshops, Cynthia and Joaquín proposed to the participants to create their own narratives for the trails, recognizing that the same trail can convey multiple messages depending on each person’s perspective. Thus, each group developed four different interpretation proposals, highlighting themes such as water, fauna, medicinal plants and the stories of the ancient settlers.

Based on these collective narratives, interpretive signage will be designed and placed on the trails, showing visitors the vision and values of the local communities.

 

Why do we work in participatory workshops?

From theory to practice, we move on to action. Working on the trails, we make the path as we go.

 

Building a trail and maintaining it is a craft, and we want every activity we undertake to be an instance of capacity building. That is why we invited guides, students and municipal staff to train them in the design, construction and maintenance of trails. This activity was led by national park rangers Lucas Fonzo and Javier Lucotti, who shared their vast experience in the management of trails in protected areas and nature trails. The trail worked on was the one that leads to Station 3 “El Parrón” of the Cable Carril, which starts from Don Abraham’s post.

In this way, the theoretical knowledge was put into practice, so that the participants can apply it in other areas. It is essential that the trails are maintained regularly to ensure that they fulfill their role in conservation, and in turn provide the best possible experience to those who walk them.

Environmental education proposes us to approach the trails from the involvement, respect and enjoyment of nature.

 

Maintenance teams, tourist and mountain guides, students and people interested in contributing to the care and sustainability of the Sierras de Famatina were able to reflect on the importance of caring for these spaces, not only for the enjoyment of visitors, but also for the preservation of local ecosystems. Knowing that each person who walks the trails is an opportunity to sow the seed of respect and conservation, ensuring that the small treasures hidden on the trail will last for generations.

 

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Stealthy but vital: the challenge of conserving Geoffroy’s cat

This small, South American wild cat faces multiple threats, but its conservation is a collective effort. A working group is focused on deploying a network to protect its habitat and guarantee its future in the wild.

 

The Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group (GCWG) is a network of conservationists, researchers and enthusiasts dedicated to the survival of Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) populations and their habitats. Formed in December 2020 in Brazil, the GCWG has more than 40 members in the six countries where this fascinating species inhabits.

 

In Cordoba, Argentina, as in many regions, mammal populations, including Geoffroy’s cat, are facing a serious decline. In response to this worrying situation, we are tackling this challenge together and working in collaboration with the national, provincial and local governments, as well as numerous institutions, civil society organizations and the community at large.

 

Lucila Castro, president of Natura Argentina, tells us about the power of this network: “In the Natura Argentina team, we believe that conservation is a collective effort, and that is why we joined the work of the GCWG with enthusiasm and commitment. Our participation focuses on sharing key information on the presence of Geoffroy’s cat in the areas where we work, collaborating on strategies for its protection and strengthening knowledge networks with other organizations and specialists. We know that every piece of information, every action and every alliance counts to ensure the future of this species and its ecosystem.

 

An endangered feline in Córdoba

 

Geoffroy’s cat is a medium-sized wild cat that inhabits various regions of Argentina, including the province of Córdoba. Its population in this area is affected by habitat loss, hunting and roadkill. This feline is solitary and nocturnal, hunting mainly rodents, birds, fish, amphibians and small reptiles. It can be recognized by its ochre or gray coat with well-defined black spots, rounded ears with a slight tuft and a thick tail with dark rings. Unlike the domestic cat, its body is more robust and its legs proportionally shorter.

 

In the Ansenuza region, the Geoffroy’s cat inhabits the hills and grasslands near the lake, where it plays a key role in the balance of the ecosystem as a predator of small vertebrates, and regulating some rodent populations (potential agricultural and forest pests) and exotic alien species such as the rabbit and the European hare.

 

Seeking data, taking action

 

At Natura Argentina we have conducted camera trap surveys of medium and large mammals in the marshes of the Río Dulce river wetland and the Mar Chiquita Lake. We have also promoted the creation of the Ansenuza Fauna Conservation Network (RCFA), encouraging the participation of citizen science. The data collected by Natura Argentina helps us to keep baselines on mammals in this internationally important wetland up to date and to promote solutions to the pressures faced by biodiversity.

 

A key threat we have identified is wildlife roadkill. To address this problem, we work closely with the provincial government on mitigation strategies, such as road and trail signage and training for government workers.

These strategies are reinforced at educational institutions and regional events with environmental education programs and informative graphic materials. They can also be viewed and downloaded on our website.

 

In the Ansenuza wetland, different actions are developed to mitigate wildlife collisions. In addition, environmental education is promoted in schools and regional events.

 

Although Geoffroy’s cats are masters of stealth and rarely seen, their presence is critical to ecosystem health. The cat adapts to diverse environments, from forests to grasslands, and has even been captured by camera traps in unexpected places. Its future depends on our ability to protect its habitat and reduce threats such as hunting and roadkill. With the joint work of the GCWG and all the allied organizations, we continue to bet on a future in which this small feline continues to roam our environments and leave its mark.

 

The GCWG on instagram.

www.geoffroyscatwg.org

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