Together, they held joint campaigns, arrange global actions and receive financial backup for executing programs and projects. They also exchange information and news on a periodical basis about environmental issues.
Since 1987, the FVSA has established 12 wildlife refuges covering 55,000 ha. Currently, with the support of the WWF, the FVSA is working toward forest landscape restoration in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, which is one of the richest forest habitats in Argentina.
The FVSA is also working to protect Argentina's largest wetlands, the Iberá Marshes, from rising water levels due to the Yacyretá dam. In addition to promoting forest certification and freshwater conservation, the FVSA is also involved in the promotion of energy resource management, environmental education, and the establishment of marine and inland-protected areas.
Monte Leon - the Lion Mountain
Monte Leon covers 60,000 hectares of Patagonian steppes and stretches approximately 25 miles off the South West Atlantic coats - about 1% of Argentina's coastline. Its name, which means Lion Mountain, comes from a coastal mountain that resembles the profile of a lion. The puma, or mountain lion, still lives there. The area has also ancient sea caves, kelp forest, sea lions, penguins, cormorants, and guanacos.
Creation of the first coastal Patagonian protected area
In May 2001, with the financial support of The Patagonia Land Trust and WWF, FVSA bought Monte Leon, and then in November of 2002 donated it to the Argentinian National Parks Administration to create the first coastal Patagonian protected area.
Protecting the jaguar
The yaguareté or jaguar is the biggest feline in the American continent. Originally this species home range spanned from the south of the United States to the north of Argentina. Today it occupies less than the half of this area. One of the biggest challenges for jaguar conservation is to maintain the genetic exchange of the populations in that region.
FVSA scientists are working to resolve the issue of jaguars killing cattle (without killing the jaguars) by establishing barriers so that jaguars are not able to reach their prey.
The outstanding Iguaçu Falls, in the midst of the rich Atlantic Forest
Misiones is part of the largest continuous remnant of Atlantic Forest left in this highly threatened ecoregion. Nowhere else in the Americas can you see so much of the Atlantic Forest, along with one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world: The Iguaçu Falls.
WWF (both in Brazil and Paraguay) and FVSA in Argentina have been working together to develop a plan to promote conservation and sustainable development in this region. This includes making about 1 million hectares of forest into a Green Corridor that would allow the establishment of sustainable forest management, ecotourism, and a wealth of small development projects that would ensure better use of the natural resources of the forest.
Peninsula Valdes
Peninsula Valdes is characterized by its vibrant coastline, a stunning array of tall cliffs, rocky reef and exotic marine mammals. Peninsula Valdes is home to the southern elephant seal, sea lion, Southern right whale, and magellan penguins. In a spectacular display, in March and April each year, killer whales breach on the beach in prey upon sea lions pups.
The peninsula is also the world's most important breeding ground for Southern right whales. This giant, beautiful creature arrives in April and leaves in December; as a result, whale watching has become a very important activity.
