PROJECT-SUPPORT ARGENTINA

Country / Place

Argentina, Misiones Province

Argentina is a republic in South America. It borders Chile to the south and west, Bolivia to the north, Paraguay and Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. With an area of nearly 2.8 million km², Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world. With almost 50 million inhabitants, it ranks third most populous in South America (after Brazil and Colombia). Buenos Aires is the capital and the country's political, cultural, commercial, and industrial centre. One-third of the population lives in the city's metropolitan area.

Misiones is one of Argentina’s 23 provinces and is located in the northeast of the country. Apart from the land used for agriculture, the region is almost entirely covered by wetlands and rainforest. To protect its highly diverse flora and fauna, Iguazú National Park was established in the far north. This is where the Iguazú Falls are located – one of the largest waterfalls in the world and a popular tourist destination.

General

Sagittaria is a Swiss association that has been purchasing Atlantic Rainforest in the Argentine province of Misiones for decades and returning it to the indigenous peoples. Specifically, they acquire and preserve endangered forest areas to protect biodiversity and restore natural habitats. In doing so, they work closely with indigenous communities to secure their rights and actively involve them in forest conservation.

The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, known for its rich biodiversity and high level of endemism. However, deforestation poses a serious threat not only to the forest and nature, but also to the indigenous communities.

Beneficiaries

The Mbyá are an indigenous people of South America, living in the border regions of Argentina (Misiones province), Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. The Mbyá communities are safe from displacement in their forests and can preserve their knowledge and culture. This is the best way to protect and sustain the rainforest, as the Mbyá, known as “guardians of the forest”, care for and actively protect it as a natural reserve. Indigenous families are allowed to sustainably cultivate only for their own subsistence, significantly improving their livelihoods and food security. They truly live in harmony with nature.

To date, Sagittaria has purchased more than 800 hectares of rainforest and returned it to eleven Mbyá communities, each consisting of six to 20 large families. They protect the land from deforestation, poaching, and other forms of exploitation. The acquired land is officially registered in the land registry and transferred to the Mbyá community as collective property through a legal entity, a right that remains protected under the Argentine Constitution.

Even after the land transfer, the Sagittaria remains an important partner for the communities, supporting them in dealings with authorities and in matters related to their basic needs.

Project-support

53 Hectares for the Project Mártires Mirí
In October 2024, members of Sagittaria visited the Tekoá (community) Mártires Mirí. The Mburuvicha (chief) Karaí Mirí explained the current situation to them. The Tekoá consists of ten families who settled in this area just over a year ago. Before their arrival, a small section of land had been burned, and the Mbyá have since built their huts and planted crops there. The landowner tolerated their presence, partly because it put an end to timber theft.

Now, however, the forest is up for sale, as the landowner is facing financial difficulties. This puts the Tekoá at risk of eviction, causing great concern within the community. They have asked Sagittaria to purchase this forest next.

Karaí Mirí has signed an agreement stating that they will not cut down native trees and that both their huts and crops will be established outside the forest. Only exotic pine wood will be used for hut construction. Additionally, the community has committed to collecting non-organic waste.

There is hope that enough donations will soon be raised to complete the purchase, ensuring the future of Tekoá Mártires Mirí.