High Andes Conservation Without Borders

Project Animal(s) : Andean cat,vicuñas,migratory and endemic birds
Project Category : Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Project Region : South America
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : https://www.wildcru.org/research/high-andes-conservation-without-borders/
Project is timebound? : No

The High Andes ecosystem harbours a range of species that have developed unique adaptations to this harsh climate with low temperatures and extreme aridity. Shallow water bodies and extensive wetlands, known as ‘vegas’ or ‘bofedales’, sustain patches of higher productivity, which are crucial for the Andean cat and their prey, migratory and endemic birds, and recovering populations of vicuñas. Due to their fragility the High Andes have a limited capacity to respond to disturbances brought about by increasing pressure from mining, unregulated tourism, and livestock grazing.

We seek to increase the protection of High Andes biodiversity and of critical natural resources in the triple frontier of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile from the threats of incompatible land uses and climate change, through international collaborations. We work in three protected areas: the Reserva Altoandina de Fauna Eduardo Avaroa (Bolivia), Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos (Chile) and Ramsar Site Lagunas de Vilama (Argentina).

Funded by two grants from the Darwin Initiative (2005-2008 and 2010-2012) this project is a collaboration with  the Andean Cat Alliance (AGA) and the High Andes Flamingo Conservation Group(GCFA), which link members from various partner organizations, including: WildCRU and Oxford’s School of Geography and Enviroment,  Colección Boliviana de Fauna, Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina), CONAF (Chile) and SERNAP (Bolivia).

Project Agency : Wildlife Conservation Research Unit(WildCRU)

Project Agency Contact : https://www.wildcru.org/

Project Researcher : Professor Claudio Sillero

Project Researcher Contact : https://www.wildcru.org/members/prof-claudio-sillero/

Additional Information :

Project Outputs: Final report Darwin original project 2005-2008, Final report Darwin original project 2010-2012

Dr Magdalena Bennett: https://www.wildcru.org/members/dr-magdalena-bennett/
Dr Jorgelina Marino: https://www.wildcru.org/members/dr-jorgelina-marino/