In San Pedro, Misiones, the Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina has already planted more than 200,000 native trees to restore the biodiversity corridors of the area and preserve the jaguar.
In addition to the restoration of the flora and fauna of the Misiones jungle, the role of the NGO is also vital for its work with local farmers, who participate with their knowledge.
Thus, after more than two decades of work in the province, the entity reached a milestone in San Pedro: it has already recovered 640 hectares of jungle.
This is essential to restore the biological corridors essential for the care of the jaguar, the most emblematic species of the area, today in critical danger of extinction in Argentina.
Biological corridors, key to the survival of the jaguar
The restoration of biological corridors is an essential factor to protect the population of jaguars in Misiones and aspire to their population growth.
These spaces are what allow the jaguar to move, hunt, and reproduce freely.
“Without jungle, there is no wildlife. Without ecological connectivity, the jaguar has no future,” said Claudia Amicone, a specialist in restoration and community of the Foundation.
And she added: “Each restored hectare is a key piece in the puzzle of conservation.”
Since the largest feline in America needs large connected territories to maintain viable populations, each recovered hectare strengthens this vital habitat network.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the recovery of the Misiones jungle also enables essential environmental services for local populations.
“Conserving the jaguar is conserving environmental services such as the quality and quantity of water or pollination,” highlighted Jonatan Villalba from San Pedro, a wildlife restoration specialist.
Amicone, for her part, added that the organization is “convinced of the need to recover the Misiones jungle not only for the jaguar and biodiversity but also for people.”
Comprehensive conservation strategy: community work and jungle care
The work of ecological restoration is part of more than two decades of territorial action by the Foundation in Misiones.
In this project, the participating families enrich existing jungle sectors by planting native trees on degraded areas.
At the same time, this allows them to integrate conservation with their productive projects. Currently, 38 rural families from San Pedro participate in the project on their farms through voluntary agreements.
The producers receive technical and economic support to implement sustainable productive practices, such as agroforestry systems in yerba mate.
“Change does not come from outside. We build it with the local people, respecting their knowledge, needs, and rights,” explained Villalba.
Recomposition of corridors to protect the jaguar: project progress
Just this 2025, the organization added 152 new hectares planted in San Pedro, which will raise the total to 488 hectares restored.
The project also includes the planting of 50,000 additional native trees to strengthen the connectivity between the Cruce Caballero Provincial Park and the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve.
The entity seeks to address the main threats facing the species: habitat loss, poaching, conflicts with productive activities, and roadkill.
“Today, recovering the jaguar in the region is possible. Doing it in a planned way would benefit people and nature,” said Villalba about the future of the emblematic feline.
In San Pedro, the foundation has reforested 336 hectares with approximately 82,090 seedlings so far. The project began 16 years ago in Andresito before expanding to the capital of Araucaria.
The interventions prioritize sites of high value for the jaguar’s habitat where connectivity between large blocks of jungle requires urgent action.
