A Long Way
We are pleased to present our 2021 Annual Report, which features a wild, main story that is yet to be written: the return of the jaguar to its homeland in the Iberá Wetlands.
After decades of hard work and envisioning, the first eight jaguars were released into the wilderness of Iberá Park, in a region from which the species had been absent for over 70 years. Further north, at El Impenetrable National Park, two jaguar cubs were born as the result of a trailblazing breed between a captive-bred and a wild individual. Both milestones are key to keep recovering this top predator, and working towards the establishment of a large corridor that connects the species’ relict populations in Northern Argentina. While at sea, the massive environmental awareness campaign launched by our Marine Program contributed to the prohibition of salmon farming in Tierra del Fuego, making Argentina the first country to ban this industry.
Also covered in this report are the expansion of Iberá Provincial Park; the flourishing of nature tourism in the four destinations in which we are working -Iberá Park, El Impenetrable National Park, Patagonia Park, and Patagonia Azul- and the highest visitation rates ever recorded to these protected areas.
Without a doubt, 2021 was a touchstone year that marks the beginning of an unscripted, wild future. We hope you enjoy reading our report!
2021 by the numbers
Park Creation
Isla Leones Gateway, Patagonia Azul. Photo: Lucas Beltramino.
This year, we helped create ONE protected area and inaugurated ONE public-access gateway, and incorporated 40,000 hectares—100,000 acres—for restoration.
Ecosystem Restoration
Mariua, Karai, and Porã free in Iberá Park. Photo: Magalí Longo.
We released EIGHT jaguars into the Iberá Park, translocated 63 animals, and deployed 164 collars for monitoring wildlife. We conducted EIGHT active-management projects to increase populations of threatened wildlife, 14 reintroduction projects to restore locally extinct species, and NINE projects to eradicate exotic species.
Restorative Economy
A hand-woven piece showing the jaguar’s fur in El Impenetrable. Photo: Miranda Volpe.
We built and inaugurated ONE Nature Tourism Workshop & School, where 77 courses were provided to entrepreneurs. Moreover, 88 new “Entrepreneurs By Nature” are working on SIX new regenerative product lines.
Communities
Camarones’ community farm in Patagonia Azul. Photo: Maike Friedrich.
In the communities near the parks, 23 talks were given about rewilding, while 26 families saw benefits from food security projects.
About Rewilding Argentina
Rewilding Argentina is a non-profit organization created to confront and reverse the extinction crisis and the resulting environmental degradation, to restore the healthy functioning of ecosystems, and to promote the well-being of local communities. Founded in 2010 by Argentinian conservationists and activists, Rewilding Argentina is the offspring of Tompkins Conservation.
So far, we donated over 1 MILLION acres—407 THOUSAND hectares—on land to create and expand SEVEN national and provincial parks that protect over 2,47 MILLION acres—ONE MILLION hectares, and sequester 612 MILLION metric tons of carbon. While at sea, we helped protect 96 THOUSAND square kilometers of the Argentine Sea with the creation of the FIRST National Marine Parks in Argentina.
We are reintroducing 14 missing species to their natural habitats in Argentina, and working with research and active management of EIGHT threatened species to augment their population numbers. Thus, FIVE ecoregions are being impacted by territorial conservation models: the Great Chaco —which includes the Iberá Wetlands—, the Patagonian Steppe, the Argentine Sea, the Yungas, and the Patagonian Forest.
All of this has enabled us to help create FOUR nature-based tourism destinations: Iberá, El Impenetrable, Patagonia, and Patagonia Azul, where we are developing 11 park’s entrances with public-use infrastructure, which in turn are generating more economic opportunities for the neighboring communities, and fostering a strong local pride.
