The Osununú Natural Reserve, located in San Ignacio, Misiones, celebrated its 20 years of management under Fundación Temaikèn, establishing itself as a national reference in conservation, scientific research, and environmental education.
With 168 protected hectares, this space is situated in the ecotone where the Paranaense jungle meets the Cerrado grasslands, forming a mosaic of unique habitats.
A strategic node for biodiversity
The Osununú Natural Reserve promotes a biological corridor that connects seven protected areas in the Teyú Cuaré region.
“Conserving this reserve is caring for a strategic node for the future of biodiversity in Misiones,” highlighted Jerónimo Torresin, coordinator of the Jungle and Grassland Program at Fundación Temaikèn.
The reserve is part of the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of Teyú Cuaré and was declared an Important Area for Bat Conservation (AICOM) in 2013. Today, it co-coordinates the Misiones Node within the Network of Private Natural Reserves, strengthening territorial articulation.
Scientific and educational achievements in two decades of work
New species, restoration of native flora, and training of environmental multipliers.
- More than 10 new species of flora and fauna recorded for science
- Cultivation of 8 endemic species in its nursery, aimed at restoring grasslands and reinforcing wild populations
- 18 species of bats recorded, 4 of them threatened and one new to science
- 390 teachers and students participated in the Environmental Multipliers Program, developing 163 conservation projects
Additionally, it succeeded in involving Mbya Guaraní communities, revaluing ancestral knowledge and promoting the sustainable use of the territory, together with private sector actors, universities, NGOs, and public organizations.
Community celebration and participatory art
A collective mural symbolizes the shared commitment to the future of Osununú.
The commemoration brought together local and provincial authorities, researchers, teachers, students, and neighbors, with educational, artistic, and environmental activities.
The muralist Agostina Corallo (Coral art) led a collective mural, inviting the community to leave their brushstroke as a symbol of commitment to conservation.
Natural and cultural heritage: a reserve with history
Between 1905 and 1934, the reserve belonged to the landscaper Carlos Thays, and later to Darío Quiroga, son of the famous writer Horacio Quiroga, who had a nearby house.
The last resident was Georges Lenoble, along with Sara Vivanco, until the end of the 20th century. In 2005, Fundación Temaikèn received the reserve as a donation, committing to protect it in perpetuity.
