Fundación Rewilding Argentina

Fundación Rewilding Argentina

MISSION

Fundación Rewilding Argentina (FRA) is dedicated to promoting the complete recovery of Argentina’s ecosystems through active species’ reintroductions.

Our partner works closely with local communities and provincial governments to develop sustainable ecotourism packages that promote coexistence between people and wildlife. Their vision is one of thriving complete ecosystems with healthy populations of all native species, including large predators such as Puma (Puma concolor) and Jaguar (Panthera onca).

 

HISTORY

FRA was founded in 2010 by Argentinian conservationists from its parent organisation Tompkins Conservation.

Since being founded, FRA have created or expanded 10 national or provincial parks across Argentina, with 1 million hectares protected on land and 100,000 km² at sea. To restore these ecosystems, they have reintroduced Jaguars, Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), and Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao), and successfully carried out the world’s first reintroduction of Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis).

 
Aerial view of El Impenetrable, Argentina
 

Partnership with WLT

World Land Trust (WLT) partnered with FRA in 2023 to support the protection of the intact but highly threatened Gran Chaco forest in northern Argentina. The first step of the project is to acquire 12,780 hectares (31,580 acres) across three properties, of which WLT funding will secure 1,136 hectares (2807 acres).

Although home to a wealth of wildlife, the Gran Chaco is threatened by Argentina’s northward expansion of soy plantations and cattle ranching, as well as poaching and illegal logging. Securing this property will strengthen protection of the neighbouring El Impenetrable National Park (EINP) by closing off a river access point often used by poachers. This will help safeguard the Gran Chaco’s many unique species, including the Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri), and Chaco Side-necked Turtle (Acanthochelys pallidipectoris), and Crowned Solitary Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus); all of which are IUCN-classified as Endangered.

WLT FUNDED PROJECTS

CURRENT

Please see our Argentina page.

 
 

Other projects and activities

  • The reintroduction of Jaguars to the Corrientes Province, establishing an initial population of 18 wild individuals, with births in the wild for the first time in over 70 years.
  • The reintroduction of the Pampas Deer to the Corrientes Province in 2006. By 2021, this region had one of the highest concentrations of Pampas Deer in Argentina, at 300 individuals.
  • The first reintroduction of Giant Otters to Argentina, where no wild or captive individuals were left, by collaboration with the IUCN and European zoos.
  • The promotion of wildlife-based tourism in communities around the parks, such as guided walks, kayaks, wildlife watching, and local cuisine and crafts.
  • Setting up the FRA Marine Programme in 2017 to protect the marine and coastal ecosystem and species of Argentina.
  • Promoting the creation of the first National Marine Parks in Argentina between 2017 and 2022, including the parks Yaganes and Namuncurá-Banco Burdwood II.
  • Safeguarding the wildlife-rich waters of Tierra del Fuego’s Beagle Channel from salmon fishing.
  • Conducting environmental education in schools and communities around the reserves to encourage coexistence between people and wildlife.
  • Partnering with scientific institutions to monitor wildlife; for example, using camera traps and GPS technology to better understand the feeding locations of Imperial Cormorants’ (Leucocarbo atriceps) and Northern Giant Petrels (Macronectes halli).
  • The monitoring of wildlife within the reserves using camera traps and GPS technology.
 
 

Contact Details

Executive Director: : Sofia Heinonen

Website: rewildingargentina.org