Tag Archive for: Argentina

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.

 

by Natura Argentina Team

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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by Natura Argentina Team
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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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by Natura Argentina Team

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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by Natura Argentina Team

Leonardo DiCaprio joins the call for Ansenuza National Park

The renowned actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio published on his social networks a request addressed to the Argentinian Congress, asking for the treatment of the bill for the creation of the Ansenuza National Park and Reserve.

Leonardo DiCaprio requested through his social networks to the National Congress the treatment of the bill to move forward with the creation of the Ansenuza National Park and Reserve, he also stressed the global importance of this wetland. This request is in addition to the one made formally a few days ago by Natura International Argentina and Aves Argentinas.

In August of this year, a Provincial law was obtained by unanimous vote of the legislature of the province of Córdoba. Now, the urgent request is the approval of the National Law that will allow the creation of the Ansenuza National Park and Reserve. Having this protected area is of vital importance to ensure the conservation of the wetland formed by the Mar Chiquita Lagoon and the marshes of the Dulce River, a key site for the conservation of biodiversity at a global level and one of the most important wetlands in Argentina.

Lucila Castro, director of Natura International Argentina, stated: “The creation of the Ansenuza National Park will allow us to protect and develop, together with its local communities, one of the most important ecosystems in our country”.

The creation of the Park requires the approval of the Chamber of Deputies first, and then of the Chamber of Senators.

DiCaprio’s request states: “The Argentine government is ready to take the final steps necessary to make Ansenuza National Park a reality. This designation is a dream shared by local communities, the government of the province of Córdoba, the National Parks Administration, the Argentine Ministry of Environment, Aves Argentinas, Fundación Wyss, Natura International Argentina, and Re:wild,” emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve great goals.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the Chamber of Deputies to give us great news to close the year,” Castro pointed out, “since there is a general consensus for the creation of these protected areas, it remains to put it on the agenda and vote on it, which will give us a good reason to start 2022 moving forward in a mission that unites us: the conservation of one of Argentina’s most valuable wetlands.”

by Natura International

Who is the Maned Wolf? Myths and curiosities of a tireless walker, emblem of the Santa Fe grasslands

By Marcela Tittarelli

From Santa Fe Province, Argentina, we want to share experiences and impressions of people who have had the opportunity to observe maned wolf specimens in the wild. To try to convey those moments of emotion, I invite readers to imagine that they are in a huge pasture or an open forest of espinillos, quebrachos, and carob trees; we can also envision a ravine, stream, or lagoon. Let’s imagine that we are walking through one of these environments and suddenly a “fire” appears in front of us, the intense orange color of its coat surprises us and stands out in this landscape.

Because of this coloration, in some places it is called Doradillo.On the other hand, its particular silhouette and ungainly gait have earned it the name in some places of “fox foal”. Its size, its raised fur on the back and its loud vocalizations at night, have led erroneously to relate it with the legend of the Lobizón, generating unfounded fears.

The maned wolf (Aguará guazú) is a tireless walker of the environments described above, and can surprise us with a jump or we can see it diving like a dolphin, while it displays its hunting skills in a sea of tall grasses. Many times it is often observed concentrating deeply or looking “beyond”, without noticing the human presence that records the moment through a camera. It has also been recorded bordering watercourses or flooding areas. Solitary, slow-walking, and shy, this canid does not represent a danger to livestock or humans.

Although the bibliography mentions that it is most active during twilight and nighttime hours, we have received records of specimens observed at midday and even in the early afternoon.

(Matías Romano)

Regarding its ecological role, on the one hand, we know that this species uses connected landscapes of grasslands, wetlands, and forests, demonstrating the impact that altered or fragmented landscapes have on the survival of the fauna associated with these environments. In terms of its diet, it is a great seed disperser and is the most important predator in this region after the puma.

Thanks to the records provided by people, surveys, and surveys conducted in the Province of Santa Fe, we can say that the main threat to this and many species of our fauna is the alteration of the landscape, which leads to many individuals dying from being run over on roads or approaching urban or semi-urban areas and being attacked by dogs or being exposed to diseases of domestic animals, as well as extreme weather events (droughts and floods).

Especially thanks to the diffusion of technology we receive a large number of records of maned wolves killed by collisions on our roads and in contrast, we also receive many records of sightings.

In 2003 this species was declared a Provincial Natural Monument (Law 12182) and then in 2009 the Conservation Plan (Version 1) was published, which includes an Action Protocol for the Rescue of specimens and Collection of information which is disseminated through the Security Forces, Municipalities and Communes, and guides the ways to act in case of an encounter with an individual. In this way, we differentiate the cases that warrant an intervention from the State together with Security Forces to rescue a specimen, from those cases that are identified as sightings or findings of dead specimens. In all cases, the information we obtain is entered into a spreadsheet that allows us to evaluate threats, distribution, etc., and thus be able to propose concrete conservation actions.

When we receive notification that a maned wolf is found inside urban constructions or rural buildings due to an unusual event, we proceed to place it in a shelter and evaluate whether it is feasible to release it in a nearby natural area. If it is wounded or there are indications that it has been in captivity, then it is transferred to the wildlife center to be evaluated by veterinary professionals. After a period of quarantine and rehabilitation, many of these individuals can be released.

(Matías Romano)

We always remind you not to intervene directly, but to contact the security forces if you find an individual in a conflictive or injured situation; on the other hand, if you observe a free animal in a peri-urban or rural area, simply sharing the location, date and photo or film with us is very valuable information.

It is important to highlight that there is great communication and coordination with fauna personnel from other provinces, with institutions involved in the protection of biodiversity, with veterinarians, biologists, researchers, and others to share information on how to act when individuals need veterinary assistance or to be relocated in natural areas or when veterinary consultations are made, thus creating a collaboration between professionals and involving different institutions for the conservation of this species.

In this sense, and no less important, the question arises: What can each one of us do to help protect this species? And this is necessarily extended to all the fauna and the ecosystem where it lives. As an answer, we believe that it is important to understand and internalize that as a species we are part of the life that develops on our planet, that it is essential to respect, protect and coexist with the life forms and the health of our environment. All the actions and activities that we carry out in our cities or communities, depending on how they are executed, can have negative repercussions on the ecosystems and then on our health. So it is essential to maintain or restore healthy ecosystems.

 

by Marcela Titarelli

Financial sustainability of Protected Areas, a conservation strategy

by Lic. María Marta Mokobodzki Ongaro

Protected areas constitute a fundamental strategy for the conservation of environmental goods and services provided by ecosystems. These environmental goods and services are indispensable for life, providing the necessary elements for the general well-being of the planet.

These environmental goods and services provided by protected areas are consumed by different economic agents, either in their consumption or production decisions. These consumption and production decisions are made without considering the total economic value of the environmental goods and services that protected areas provide, resulting in suboptimal conditions.

Ubicación: Parque Nacional El Palmar, provincia de  Entre Ríos, Argentina. Imagen: María Cruz Berasategui // Location: El Palmar National Park, Entre Ríos province, Argentina. Image: María Cruz Berasategui

This situation arises because there is no market where these types of environmental or ecosystem goods and services are exchanged, but this does not imply that they do not have an economic value and that conserving them is not costly. If we were to consider the total economic value of these environmental goods and services, we would realize the high price we would have to pay for their consumption.

This situation where the consumption of environmental goods and services is not reflected in the market price, from the economic point of view, is called market failure. More precisely, it is a negative externality where consumers do not pay the true value of the goods and services consumed and it is the society that bears the costs of preserving them.

This situation, in which there is no payment for the consumption of environmental goods and services offered by protected areas, together with the scarcity of budget allocations for their effective management, results in the impossibility of effective management and, therefore, in the inability to fulfill the objectives for which they were created. Emerton et al. (2006) (1) defined the concept of financial sustainability of protected areas as “the capacity to ensure stable and sufficient long-term financial resources and to distribute them in a timely and appropriate manner to cover the total costs of PAs (both direct and indirect) and to ensure that PAs are effectively and efficiently managed according to their conservation and other relevant objectives”.

Parque Provincial Aconcagua, Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. Imagen: María Cruz Berasategui // Aconcagua Provincial Park, Mendoza Province, Argentina. Image: María Cruz BerasateguiFinancial sustainability is a strategy that requires identifying which economic actors are the consumers of the environmental goods and services of protected areas and/or protected area systems, in order to achieve, through different financial mechanisms, a solution to the negative externality by getting them to pay for their consumption.

In this way and under the economic theory that understands the environmental problem as a negative externality where instruments must be built to be able to internalize it, other alternative and complementary sources of financing to the annual governmental allocation are incorporated into the available budget and can respond to solve the problem.

These different sources of financing – alternative or complementary to governmental allocations- have different characteristics in terms of origin, stability, time horizon, ease and speed of implementation, and also the financial mechanisms that allow their management and execution.

The financial sustainability strategy should ensure that these alternative and complementary sources of financing generate a stable and long-term budget to plan and fulfill the objectives for which the protected areas were created.

To carry out the financial sustainability strategy, it is necessary to define the budget for optimal management of the protected areas and to determine the gap between the budget for optimal management and the currently available budget.

Parque Nacional El Palmar, provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina. Imagen: María Cruz Berasategui // Location: El Palmar National Park, Entre Ríos province, Argentina. Image: María Cruz Berasategui

A study on the Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas in Latin America and the Caribbean (2) shows a financing gap of US$314 million/year for basic management activities to be undertaken. This reflects the scarcity of economic resources throughout the region. 

Some countries in the region have been building their financial sustainability strategies. For example, Herencia Colombia contributes to achieving the international goals that Colombia has set to conserve and increase its protected areas and guarantee its integration into landscapes and sectors, through the design and subsequent implementation of a long-term financing model for the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP). 

Argentina does not currently have a financial sustainability strategy for protected areas at the national level, but, for example, Natura International has carried out its first sustainability strategy study for the National Protected Areas System (SINAP) in conjunction with the Province of Salta, with a first approximation of the financial gap and the identification of potential sources of funding according to the corresponding theoretical framework. 

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina. Ph: María Cruz Berasategui // Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Image: María Cruz Berasategui

This step taken by the Province of Salta will be a very important milestone for provincial protected area systems and a motivating element to understand that the financial sustainability of protected areas is one of the central elements in conservation strategies. Well-conserved ecosystems maximize their potential to provide environmental goods and services for present and future generations. Therefore, the financial sustainability of protected areas is sought to continue providing these environmental goods and services that generate so much well-being and satisfaction.

It is important to raise awareness that protected areas are not only an alternative for biodiversity conservation but also a way to preserve the environmental goods and services necessary for life. In this way, society will value the environmental, cultural, social, and economic benefits it receives from natural protected areas.

  1. Emerton, L., Bishop, J. and Thomas, L. (2006). Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas: A global review of challenges and options. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK. x + 97p.
  2. Bovarnick, A., J. Fernández-Baca, J. Galindo and H. Negret, Financial Sustainability of protected areas in Latin America and the Caribbean: guide for investment policy, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), 2010
by María Marta Mokobodzki Ongaro

Sustainable tourism, an opportunity and an obligation

By Claudina Gonzalez

There is a lot of talk about sustainable tourism. Public sector plans and programs, private products and enterprises, academic programs and curricula always and without exception include the concept of sustainability. A different discussion is whether this inclusion is merely declaratory or if it is accompanied by good, real, and verifiable practices.

What is certain is that the development of sustainable tourism is a continuous process that requires good planning as well as constant monitoring of its impacts, in order to introduce necessary preventive or corrective measures. Ideally, the tourist experience must be both satisfactory for the traveler and educational, understanding tourism as an opportunity to learn more about the natural and cultural environments, to value them, to protect them and to be able to transmit this message to others.

Each year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) frames its work agenda with a theme. Recently, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” to highlight the potential of tourism and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That same year, the organization strongly supported the statement “Why Tourism Matters”. The evidence included sustainable tourism’s capacity to generate employment, its contribution to the global Gross Domestic Product, economic growth, promoting understanding between peoples, cultural conservation, the enhancement and conservation of the environment and development in general.

In Argentina, tourism constitutes an extremely dynamic sector of the economy. In 2018, the production of goods and services associated with tourism was 5.7% of GDP. Jobs associated with tourism were 1,269,070, or 6.2% of the total economy, in the sectors of hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, transportation companies for tourism purposes (commercial airlines, tourist trains, fluvial, maritime, automotive); and in the usage of beaches, recreational parks, reserves, museums, convention centers, fairgrounds and other spaces for the reception of visitors and related activities.

Tourism is an activity that is present and dynamic in all regions and, very importantly, it is mostly made up of micro, small and medium-sized companies (practically the entire sector: 99.1%).

Sounds promising, doesn’t it?

However, all this activity must be properly managed. Careful management, respectful of natural and cultural values, is a commitment that must be assumed by governments at different levels, but also by host communities, tourism companies and providers, civil society organizations and, very importantly, the travelers themselves.

With sustainability as a focus, nature can drive a resilient economy in the long term. International organizations such as the Inter-american Development Bank and the World Bank, as well as the World Tourism Organization, reaffirm the value of nature tourism and its role in sustainable development: for poverty alleviation; as a factor for economic growth; as a tool for biodiversity conservation; and in its contribution to the fulfillment of key international agreements and conventions, such as the aforementioned “Agenda 2030”.

Argentina has an amazing endowment of natural resources that, with local and regional distinctiveness, extends throughout the country, forming a natural capital of great wealth and a tourist attraction of enormous potential.

Argentina contains enormous environmental diversity, outstanding for encompassing an almost complete gradient of ecosystems that include lowland subtropical forests, mountain forests, semi-arid subtropical forests, flooded savannas, deserts, humid temperate forests, grasslands, high mountain, marine and polar ecosystems. It contains the Guaraní Aquifer -one of the main subterranean freshwater reservoirs; it has the second-largest number of glaciers of any Latin American country; and is among the 15 countries in the world with the largest ice-covered surface, which makes it one of the main strategic freshwater reserves in the world.

Natural protected areas are an enormous attraction for tourism. According to information from the Federal System of Protected Areas (SiFAP), the country has more than 500 registered protected areas, of different jurisdiction and management, representing 13.29% of the national continental territory, with a total surface area of 36,947,536 hectares. National parks, interjurisdictional marine parks, national reserves, nature reserves and natural monuments, provincial parks, nature reserves, provincial reserves, municipal areas, private areas, wildlife refuges, Ramsar sites, Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites make up some of the country’s main tourist attractions.

This diversity of environments, terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, with their flora and fauna (vast collections of birds, fish, mammals, plants, amphibians and reptiles, among others), offers the possibility of thinking strategically about nature tourism as the engine of pandemic recovery, laying the groundwork for tourism to consolidate as an essential part of the national economy, framed within a broader agenda of sustainable development.

Nature tourism (including active tourism and ecotourism) was already one of the most developed tourism practices and one of the most in demand globally prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, with a growth rate three times higher than that of tourism in general, according to the UNWTO.

On the demand side, there are several social and demographic factors at the global level that explain this process of seeking nature and open spaces in travel: well-informed consumers with greater environmental awareness, on the one hand; and the densification and growth of cities, with lives marked by confinement in artificial spaces and affected by stressful situations, on the other. More than half of the world’s population lives in urban environments. This makes urban, artificial spaces routine and, by contrast, contact with nature in leisure time more valuable. In Argentina, the urban population is 92%. Unique and well-preserved natural settings, in contrast to other types of already saturated destinations, appear desirable and are highly motivating for this demand.

The natural scenery and the activities that take place in nature are desirable to tourists seeking transforming and memorable experiences in their travels. In addition to the above attraction factors, several studies point to the benefits of regular contact with natural spaces and the performance of activities in them, with positive impacts on physical and mental health.

From a developmental point of view, and given the enormous comparative advantages in terms of natural resources that characterize Argentina, a truly sustainable practice of nature tourism offers the opportunity to consolidate itself as an economically profitable and viable activity.

In addition, nature tourism tends to generate longer average stays and higher spending by travelers. The increase in the length of stay and expenditure variables can be explained, in part, by the variety of recreational activities that natural areas support. The greater the diversity of activities offered by a destination, the more attractive and interesting that area will be and, therefore, justify an extension of the stay with the consequent associated spending.

Sustainable nature tourism is, in turn, a vehicle for social development. This sector requires hiring local entrepreneurs and guides, and stimulates the development of tourism businesses (travel agencies, transportation, lodging, food, handicrafts, recreational and complementary activities), thus enabling the diversification of the productive matrix and the generation of local employment in many of the regional economies and communities that, in some cases are very neglected, and do not have the possibility of developing other productive activities.

At the same time, by including educational aspects and nature interpretation, it raises awareness among both locals and travelers about the importance of conserving natural environments, helping to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

In short, sustainable tourism (according to the UNWTO) is “tourism that takes full account of current and future economic, social and environmental impacts to meet the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

With the exception of a minority of natural protected areas created and devoted exclusively to scientific research, monitoring and environmental conservation, most natural areas conceive, along with the conservation function, a social function provided by the public use of these spaces, taking into account their recreational and educational tourism value.

In the generation of new protected areas as well as the proper management of existing ones, tourism can be considered a compatible activity, which requires providing destinations with appropriate infrastructure that prioritizes the planning and conservation dimensions in the public use of these spaces, and that enables access to and allows for visitation and enjoyment of natural destinations that are perceived as valuable but are still emerging.

There is an opportunity in the development of nature tourism. But also, and inseparably, there is a duty: to include sustainability in the daily activities.

by Claudina Gonzalez

Mar Chiquita is home to the largest clutch of Chilean flamingos in South America

Mar Chiquita Lagoon, a saltwater body of water located northeast of Cordoba and southeast of Santiago del Estero, is home to the largest clutch of Chilean flamingos in Latin America in the 2020-2021 breeding season.
Local conservation experts indicate that in recent months more than 300,000 individuals were counted and seven clutches of Chilean flamingos were observed. Flamingo censuses in Mar Chiquita began to be carried out by park ranger and member of the High Andean Flamingo Conservation Group (GCFA) Pablo Michelutti, and continue to this day.
The flights to count the birds are carried out at two times of the year, during the summer and winter. Three organizations collaborate to carry out the censuses: the GCFA, Natura International and the Cordoba Secretariat of Environment.

(Lucila Castro / Natura International)

The Mar Chiquita Lagoon and the Dulce River marshes, in addition to being the habitat and breeding place of the Chilean flamingo, are a migration point for the Andean flamingo (or great flamingo) and the Puna flamingo (also called the small flamingo), which is why three species of flamingos of the six existing in the world can be observed in the area. On the other hand, there are approximately 380 species of resident and migratory birds in the area, making the wetland one of the richest in the world in terms of biodiversity.
An adult Chilean flamingo can reach an average length of 100 centimeters, and has long legs and a curved beak, adapted for foraging in the muddy lagoon. They are born with grayish, brownish or white plumage. When they reach maturity, the feathers take on pink tones because the flamingos feed on algae and crustaceans native to the area, which contain pigments. Depending on where they live and the species they feed on, the pinkish hue of the flamingos’ feathers can vary in intensity.

(Yanina Druetta / Natura International)

How the censuses are carried out

The Mar Chiquita Lagoon and the marshes of the Dulce River extend over almost one million hectares in northeastern Cordoba and southeastern Santiago del Estero. Aerial surveys are the only viable way, for the moment, to estimate bird populations in such extensive wetlands.

During the flight, a census taker goes to each side of the plane to carry out the photographic survey. Together with the gauging methodology, these images are processed in software and are useful to directly count the number of individuals and which species inhabit the wetland.

Courtship and nesting

Some years, with the arrival of September and the increase in temperature, flamingos congregate in the wetland to begin courtship. There, flamingos of reproductive age gather in groups and perform a dance to attract mates. When they succeed, they mate.

(Yanina Druetta / Natura International)

If the process is successful, the flamingo couple builds a nest on the banks of the Mar Chiquita Lagoon, where a single egg is deposited. From there, the couple protects the egg until the chick hatches.
It is of great importance to generate instances of conservation in the sector. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Chilean flamingos are almost threatened, and their population trend is decreasing.
Flamingos are very sensitive birds. If frightened, they abandon the nests en masse, leave the site and leave the eggs and hatchlings to drift away. It is very important not to disturb them so that they can reproduce normally.

(Matías Michelutti)

A promise of conservation

The future Ansenuza National Park is nearing its creation. When it is established, the nearly one million hectares between the lagoon and the marshes will be protected under a legal framework, which will contribute to the conservation of these species.
Once the park is created, economic activities can be carried out around it in a sustainable manner, without affecting the local flora and fauna. In addition, with the new protected area, there will be new personnel and a specific budget dedicated to preserving the wetland.
To achieve the creation of Ansenuza National Park, environmental training and education of all the stakeholders involved in the establishment process is essential. In addition, it is necessary to develop agreements that will lead to the changes in land use necessary to create the area.

by Natura International

The closed sky of open-pit mining

By Sofía Dottori Fontanarrosa

Mining activity is a type of production of extensive consumption of non-renewable natural resources. Due to its extractive essence, it implies the modification of the topography where it is developed. Depending on the type of deposit, mining operations can be metalliferous, non-metalliferous or application rocks, and according to the size of the project, the scale ranges from small-scale mining to mega-mining. The latter involves irreversible environmental and landscape damage.

In Argentina, 90% of mining is produced in open-pit mines and consists mainly of gold, silver and copper. Metalliferous deposits constitute the group with the largest share in the total value of production with 73.1%, followed by application rocks with 23.2% and finally non-metalliferous deposits with 3.7%. According to the World Bank, in recent years mining has not reached 1% of GDP. Besides, it currently represents 0.6% and generates less than 1% of the registered work in the country.

Open pit mining (Pixabay)

Surface mining is quite different from traditional mining, which is predominantly underground. This historical transition from one model to the other is based on the progressive global depletion of metals in high-grade veins, so that, as the concentration of the mineral contained in the rocks decreases, mining by underground mining is no longer profitable. Currently, more than 60% of the world’s mining is open-pit and applies leaching or flotation processing techniques to extract the minerals disseminated in the bearer rock.

All mining activities use explosives (usually AN/FO – a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel) that cause mountain blasting and allow the pull out of considerable volumes of rock, resulting in the formation of the ‘open pit’. A single undertaking can cover up to 1000 hectares, remove to 300,000 tons of rock are removed per day, 100 tons of explosives are used and 100,000 liters of fuel and highly toxic chemicals (cyanide, mercury, sulfuric acid, xanthate, among others) are emitted into the environment in liquid or gaseous form.

Open pit mining (Pixabay)

The process generates enormous amounts of waste and effluents. More than 95% of the extracted rock becomes waste as it has no minerals of economic interest. To extract one gram of gold, up to 4 tons of debris are produced and approximately 1000 liters of water are used.

The dimensions of mega-mining and its waste are enormous. The open pit alone can measure more than 1.5 kilometers in diameter and up to 1 kilometer deep, the mine waste tips can extend over hundreds of hectares, and the tailings dams (dams for the storage of solids left over from ore processing) represent imminent health threats that deserve rigorous monitoring. These footprints are known as ‘environmental liabilities’ and are evidence of the impact that mining has on the environment.

Native flora and fauna do not escape the ecosystem imbalance. The deforestation of forest areas and soil degradation wipe out the invaluable capacity of these sinks to absorb greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Edaphic soil cover is thus dislodged and replaced by parched, infertile and impermeable soil. This disturbance leads to the annihilation of habitats, the inability of water infiltration, the alteration of the natural drainage system and undermines the agricultural and livestock potential that the area has to offer.

Negative impacts come in all directions. From noise from blasting, crushing and grinding, to surface and groundwater bodies contaminated by uncontrolled spills.

Acid lake polluted by open-pit mining (Pixabay)

The use of explosives increases nitrate and ammonium concentrations, which triggers eutrophication of the aquatic environment. The suspension of particulate material reduces the texture of the substrate and attenuates the penetration of solar radiation, essential for the development of biota. On the other hand, in those areas covered by stagnant water, pathogens multiply, a sanitary risk for the entire environment.

In almost all of these types of projects, the companies in charge benefit from tax laws and demand subsidies from local governments for the provision of energy and water needed to operate. However, their royalties do not match the magnitude of the revenues obtained. The promise of economic growth is a discourse that is skillfully used to legitimize the activity.

The monopolization of mining leaves no room for the prosperity of other regional industries, such as fishing, agriculture and tourism. At times, disputes over land use rights trigger heated socio-political conflicts, especially in sectors where cultural heritage is perversely violated. The destruction of the earth’s crust, the overexploitation of finite resources, the immeasurable generation of hazardous and pathogenic industrial waste, question the ethics with which these practices are defended.

Open pit mining (Pixabay)

Protected areas are the light for the sustainability of the physical environment. They are not a lucrative activity but a holistic balm on all components of nature. They are altruistic spaces for the well-being of biodiversity, where ecological processes and human development coexist in a fair and balanced symbiosis. These geographically defined areas, protected by a constitutional legal framework, are the right instrument for the long-term conservation of ecosystem services.

That is why mining and protected areas are absolutely incomparable, as one is at the antipode of the other. While abusive and uncontrolled mining is the desecration of the planet’s geological treasures, protected areas are the gateway to resilience, sustainability and a harmonious connection with the Earth. To protect our natural resources is to reserve the abundance that future generations also deserve.

“We do not inherit land from our fathers, we borrow it from our children.”

– Indian proverb –

by Sofía Dottori Fontanarrosa