Exploring the Benefits of the Selva de Urundel Project
The Project protects nearly 50,000 hectares of rainforest in Salta, Argentina, preserving its rich biodiversity through a comprehensive forest protection strategy. It employs continuous monitoring with advanced technology to detect and combat wildfires efficiently. Regular training strengthens the conservation team’s expertise, while awareness campaigns aim to educate neighboring communities about wildfire risks and the critical importance of nature and its biodiversity. In Urundel, the project promotes community participation, for example, by evaluating and approving community garden projects, providing land on loan to those deemed viable. Additionally, it supports local organizations with resources and coordination, ensuring the forest ecosystem’s protection and supporting sustainable community development whenever possible.
Biodiversity Protection
The project is home to species that require vast territories to survive, such as the jaguar. Due to its proximity to Calilegua National Park, this private conservation area, together with the park, creates a biological corridor of approximately 120,000 hectares, ensuring that the largest feline in the Americas has a habitat suited to its needs.
Fire Prevention
With constant monitoring patrols and an early fire detection system, we are successfully reducing ongoing fire-related degradation in the area. Active prevention efforts include raising awareness among neighboring communities about the risks and necessary measures to prevent fires. We establish agreements with institutions to collectively reduce wildfires across the region. Additionally, we support the volunteer fire departments of Colonia Santa Rosa and Urundel, strengthening our efforts and growing together. We also draw from the knowledge and experience of the wildfire firefighters from the neighboring National Park.
The image is an example of the detection system for areas with temperature increases near the project area.
We Are Part of the Community
After more than four years of activities, our project has gradually integrated into various community initiatives. Not only is part of our team composed of members from the Urundel and Colonia Santa Rosa communities, but we also live day-to-day with the region’s inherent challenges, contributing our resources, whenever possible, to the service of the common good. Recognizing that our proposed objectives cannot address all the needs of neighboring localities, we strive to respond to multiple environmental demands, actively participating in parades, public events, and any initiatives promoted within the municipality and its surroundings, reaffirming our commitment to the community’s development and identity.
To prevent the burning of pruned branches and leaves by residents of Barrio La Estación, we initiated the first community composting project.
We implemented various improvement plans for the waste collection system. The main objective is to reduce the burning of urban solid waste in households.
Compost beds were set up near the CAISSA company as a trial initiative to help reduce the daily burning of waste by residents of Barrio La Estación.
To prevent the burning of pruned branches and leaves by residents of Barrio La Estación, we initiated the first community composting project.
Social Commitment
We promote the creation of community gardens by providing land on loan near the Municipality of Urundel. Among other initiatives, we distribute discarded wood as an alternative fuel, helping to reduce illegal logging and forest degradation.
Together with members of the Colonia Santa Rosa community and ECO Z, we participated in the reforestation of degraded areas.
The environmental organization RECAVAL, founded with guidance from the project, began germinating pink lapacho trees for the reforestation project along the entrance road to the municipality.
Together with members of the Colonia Santa Rosa community and ECO Z, we participated in the reforestation of degraded areas.
Training
We believe that the only way to grow and achieve our goals is through continuous learning. Workshops and training sessions are a regular practice.
We encourage groups from neighboring communities to participate in workshops, inviting them to be part of this ongoing learning process.
We were invited to participate in Urundel's end-of-year event. It was a wonderful opportunity for the project team to interact with the children of Urundel.
The project is continuously invited to participate in the parades organized in Colonia Santa Rosa.
On various occasions, we are invited to attend community events. In this case, we participated by donating sweets for children during a Three Kings Day parade.
We were invited to participate in Urundel's end-of-year event. It was a wonderful opportunity for the project team to interact with the children of Urundel.
Environmental Health
Continuous improvement plans in waste management are implemented, evaluating their successes and addressing multiple challenges that lead to their modification and enhancement. The reduction of waste and pruning residue burning is promoted to minimize fire risks and improve air quality. Active support is provided to a local recycling cooperative, and composting practices are encouraged.
A garden on land provided on loan by the CAISSA company, continuously supported and assisted by the project
A garden on loaned land that supplements the food supply for people benefiting from the senior dining hall run by the "Amigos en Marcha" group.
A garden on land provided on loan by the CAISSA company, continuously supported and assisted by the project
Forest Nursery
We promote the germination of native species and reforestation in collaboration with the community and the municipality. Thanks to this initiative, lapacho trees have already been planted in recreational areas, native trees in fire-affected zones, and progress is being made in the afforestation of the peri-urban area.
The Selva de Urundel Project is proof that conservation and social well-being can go hand in hand, while being aware that we cannot cover all the social needs of the region, pursuing the success of the proposed objectives in the medium and long term.