Natura Argentina is committed to the conservation of natural ecosystems through the creation of protected areas, promoting the participation of local stakeholders. In this way, we hope to preserve our natural and cultural values for future generations.
Natura Argentina has its roots in Pacific Biodiversity Institute (PBI), a 20-year-old nonprofit research and training organization based in Washington State, USA. PBI closed in 2018 and rearranged its strategy into other organizations, including Natura International which took the Argentina staff and continued the projects in that country. That same year, the team was based in Córdoba, Argentina, and formed Natura Argentina, for the promotion of protected areas and specific programs of protection, conservation and education on environmental care and endangered species.
WLT’s first project with Natura Argentina, the Santa Victoria Este Chaco Provincial Reserve, aims to create a Provincial Protected area of over 600,000 hectares in north-eastern Argentina, in the Chaco forests bordering Bolivia and Paraguay. This area is in good conservation status, and would protect an extensive area of the Chaco dry forest ecosystem that is being rapidly deforested for cattle and soybeans. The area is home to both local indigenous and creole communities who have requested and are supportive of a protected area designation. The final area will be zoned, with a significant amount of land (up to ~400,000 ha) declared as strict conservation/indigenous areas, with other areas where integrated forest management will occur.
The second project supported by WLT aims to establish a conservation mosaic scheme around the Sierras de Ambato in Catamarca province, a mountainous area with remarkable biodiversity. This scheme will promote collaboration among a network of municipalities for the sustainable management of territories, taking into account natural resources, local regulations, and property rights. The strategy includes creating biological corridors that connect protected areas, ensuring biodiversity conservation and ecological resilience, while fostering economic activities compatible with conservation and sustainable regional development.
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Since 2014, the team at Natura Argentina have worked to create a protected area of over 200,000 acres in the Sierra de Famatina, an outstandingly beautiful area in the central Argentinian Andes, also is working to promote the creation if the first national park in Mendoza Province. In 2022 the Ansenuza National Park was created in Cordoba province with the support of Natura Argentina after 7 years of work, it is 600.000 ha big. Now Natura Argentina is working in Santiago del Estero province, to protect the north area of the Ansenuza national park. Finally, there is a second project in Salta province, in the Puna region to protect 45000ha.
Natura Argentina is working to promote the creation of 7 protected areas in the north of Argentina linking work with local communities, collaboration with authorities and organizations at the local and national levels; and carrying out scientific and technical fieldwork to support our conservation programs
