The Landscape
The Uspallata Defense Nature Reserve protects a strategic biological corridor between the Frontal Range and the Mendoza Precordillera. Glaciers, high Andean meadows, and ravines form a fragile ecosystem inhabited by unique species such as the Andean cat and the pampas cat.

The Threat
The pressure of unregulated public use and the fragility of mountain ecosystems threaten vulnerable species and sites of high ecological and cultural value.

Our work
The pressure of unregulated public use and the fragility of mountain ecosystems threaten vulnerable species and sites of high ecological and cultural value. The Work: We are working to strengthen the effective implementation of the reserve through environmental education, interpretive signage, and scientific wildlife monitoring. We also promote volunteer opportunities and regional collaboration to improve the conservation of the Andean corridor. We dream that one day we can bring Uspallata National Park to fruition, as it would be the first in Mendoza. This site forms a large corridor of connected protected natural areas in two provinces of northwestern Argentina, a key location for products such as Argentine Malbec, olive production, and the fruit and vegetable industry of the Northwest region.

The community
The project originated in the community of Uspallata, whose members contribute the vision and collective, historical understanding of this project. Schools, young students, park rangers, and residents of Uspallata have been involved with us since 2020 in science, education, and management strategies for the Uspallata Defense Natural Reserve.