Atlantic Forest restoration in Iguazú National Park

"This project was initiated in 2001 with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) to reconnect and restore fragmented stands of Atlantic Forest in the tri-national Upper Paraná eco-region of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. This region is of vital importance in maintaining connectivity among four key parks: Iguaúu National Park in Brazil, Iguazú National Park in Argentina (both Heritage Sites protecting the world famous Iguazú Falls), and the Urugua-í and Foerster Provincial parks of Misiones, Argentina. Restoration treatments have targeted privately owned agricultural land representing a dangerous bottleneck for biodiversity, and more than 20 hectares are currently being restored in the municipality of Andresito. Not only have experimental trials allowed practitioners to evaluate the efficacy of different techniques, the project has yielded extensive data on the dynamics of native species regeneration and has facilitated collaborative relationships with local agricultural producers. Alternatives for sustainable land management are being explored (i.e. organic and under-story yerba mate production), and it is hoped that this project will serve as a regional model for balancing the livelihoods of local communities with the needs of vital forest habitats."