Argentina and Chile come together in a binational agenda to save a critically endangered bird species in danger: the **Chorlito Ceniciento**.
In May, a first meeting was held in the city of **Río Gallegos**, where authorities, managers, scientists, and specialists from both countries built the foundations to take action.
The idea is to **recover and preserve a healthy population of the species** and its habitats, through collaborative management, good practices, coordination, and cooperation.
## The Chorlito Ceniciento, a critically endangered species that calls for a binational agenda
The Chorlito Ceniciento (*Pluvianellus socialis*) is an endemic species of the Argentine and Chilean Southern Patagonia, with a very low population number. Usually, it moves in pairs or small groups, **feeding mainly along the coasts** or walking in shallow waters.
**María Luz Alsina**, coordinator of the Conservation team of the **Ambiente Sur Association**, explained the objectives.
“The binational agenda is based on **four strategic lines that guide the implementation of priority actions**: research and monitoring,” she pointed out. “To generate better information for decision-making, **protection and management of priority sites**, governance, and education and awareness to involve stakeholders,” she added.
On the other hand, **Ricardo Matus**, specialist from the **Leñadura Bird Rehabilitation Center**, referred to the bird’s situation. “The species monitoring program we have implemented in recent years **shows a critical population size**,” he stated. “Therefore, it is urgent to take measures that directly address the **threats to its recovery and conservation**,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, **Diego Luna Quevedo**, specialist in Policy and Governance from **Manomet Conservation Sciences**, detailed that the species is included in **Appendix 1 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals** as a migratory species at risk.
“This provides the enabling framework for Argentina and Chile to join efforts,” he said. “For the implementation of the **conservation agenda**, a binational **Working Group** is activated to promote implementation, facilitate articulations, and identify **sources and financing opportunities**,” Luna Quevedo explained.
## The most important actions
Among the prioritized actions in the binational agenda are **strengthening and sustaining the binational monitoring program** of the species, mapping habitats and priority sites in Patagonia.
It will also seek to protect nesting-reproduction sites and implement protection mechanisms such as **public protected areas, private reserves, and OMECs**.
Additionally, **access to information and dialogue with direct stakeholders** will be strengthened. In this case, **livestock owners, energy companies**, lagoon neighbors, regional-provincial decision-makers, and legislators, among others.
This **conservation agenda between Argentina and Chile** is launched with the vision that, by 2030, the species is known and valued by the Patagonian communities and decision-makers; and its habitats are protected and preserved, ensuring its **life cycle and population viability**.
The agenda can be downloaded **online** [here](https://web.ambientesur.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Pluvianellus-Socialis-AGENDA-BINACIONAL-2025.pdf).
