During the last long weekend, a herpetofauna sampling campaign was carried out in the Las Piedras Natural Reserve, located in Entre Ríos.
The initiative is part of the conservation actions and the strengthening of scientific knowledge for the management plans of Municipal Protected Areas.
Coordination and work team
The activity was coordinated by Juan Solari, responsible for Natural Protected Areas, and Guillermo Treboux, in charge of Conservation and Triple Impact.
The survey also included the participation of biologist Alfredo Sabaliauskas, a member of the Ñacariña Foundation, accompanied by a team of four specialists, including doctoral candidates, advanced students, and biology professionals.
Sampling methodology
The campaign included day and night tours through different sectors of the reserve. Visual and auditory transects were applied to record the presence of reptiles and amphibians, in addition to the temporary capture of specimens for identification and data collection.
The results were significant:
- A total of 19 species were recorded.
- 6 species of reptiles.
- 13 species of amphibians.
- A total of 125 individuals surveyed, including frogs, toads, lizards, and skinks.
This data provides key information about the biodiversity present in the area and is fundamental for future environmental management planning.
Reserve Management Plan
The survey is part of the technical process of developing the Management Plan for the Las Piedras Natural Reserve, an instrument that organizes land use, defines conservation lines, and guides actions based on scientific information and permanent monitoring.
Ecological importance of the Reserve
The Las Piedras Natural Reserve is a crucial space for the ecosystem of Entre Ríos, as it acts as a biodiversity refuge amidst an agricultural landscape.
- Biodiversity protection: hosts native species, many of them endemic.
- Safeguarding ecosystems: includes wetlands, grasslands, gallery forest, and xerophytic forest.
- Biodiversity island: serves as a refuge against the advance of urbanization and agriculture.
- Recovery of native forest: more than 250 hectares in various states of conservation allow observing natural regeneration processes.
Cultural and social importance
In addition to its ecological value, the reserve preserves a historical and architectural heritage linked to an old agricultural colony.
- Historical preservation: safeguards cultural remains of great value.
- Education and recreation: offers tourist trails and spaces for exploring landscapes and streams.
- Environmental awareness: promotes the appreciation of nature and environmental care in the community.
Conservation challenges
The Las Piedras Natural Reserve faces various challenges:
- Island effect: surrounded by agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization, it suffers constant external pressures.
- Lack of community appropriation: the local population does not yet fully recognize the natural and cultural value of the site.
- Threats to wildlife: practices such as rock piling affect species that depend on them for shelter.
The survey of reptiles and amphibians in the Las Piedras Natural Reserve reinforces the importance of having updated scientific data to design effective conservation strategies. This space functions as a biodiversity island in Entre Ríos, protecting flora, fauna, and cultural heritage against the advance of urbanization.
The information obtained will be key for the Reserve Management Plan, consolidating its role as an ecological and educational refuge, and as an example of how science and environmental management can work together to preserve the future of local ecosystems.
