Our partner is the Argentinian conservation organization Asociación Ambiente Sur.

The Rio Gallegos Estuary includes two large reserves dedicated to the conservation of migratory and resident shorebirds. Together these reserves are home to thousands of Magellanic Plovers, Magellanic Oystercatchers, White-rumped Sandpipers, Hudsonian Godwits and Red Knots. The bay is also a non-breeding site for the Critically Endangered Hooded Grebe. The estuary was designated as a WHSRN site of International Importance in 2005. Thanks to the work of Asociación Ambiente Sur, a Shorebird Interpretive Center was established in 2011 and Shorebird Festivals gave been held each year since 2012.

With support from ICFC since 2014, Asociación Ambiente Sur has been able to increase the number of conservation agents in the field to better assess threats, track shorebird populations, advise the managers of the municipal and provincial reserves, and carry-out important management actions such as mapping and marking reserve boundaries, and enforcing protections against illegal fishing and driving in shorebird habitat areas.

Enhanced protection is imperative because disturbance and destruction of feeding and roosting habitats causes birds to leave optimal areas, which adversely affects their physical condition and lowers their chances for survival. Several factors have led to worsening disturbance:

• The growth of population of Rio Gallegos city has led to the expansion of a large landfill on the boundary of the Municipal Reserve. Blowing trash, leaking waste, and trucking activities all potentially effect the health of the reserve.
• Previously unregulated fishing with shoreline nets is an on-going issue, and includes disturbance by off-road-vehicles used to set and access fishing nets along the reserve's shoreline.
• The presence of a significant population of feral horses in the Provincial Reserve must be assessed and managed to reduce their threats and impacts.
• With two reserves owned and managed by different government agencies, it is critical that cooperative efforts be employed to better protect the shared natural resources of the estuary.

The number of provincial conservation officers working in the Provincial Reserve is not enough to protect the main vulnerable shorebirds sites.

With this project, our partner Asociación Ambiente Sur have an agreement with the province of Santa Cruz to collaborate in affording the level of protection needed.

1. Train, equip and manage conservation officers (rangers) who:
   • enforce regulations aimed at reducing disturbance and threats to shorebirds and their habitat;
   • promote awareness of shorebird and biodiversity conservation among local landowners (complementing education efforts about shorebirds that Ambiente Sur undertakes at schools and their Interpretive Centre)
2. Provide expert input on shorebird conservation needs in relation to coastal development affecting sensitive areas along the Provincial Reserve of Río Gallegos Estuary to develop a Management Plan and coordinate actions with the management of the Municipal Reserve.