New Argentina Reserve Will Help Protect Grassland Home of Rare Saffron-cowled Blackbird

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), Aves Argentinas, and BirdLife International announce the acquisition of a section of Estancia La Rosita in northeastern Argentina, a vital sanctuary for the Saffron-cowled Blackbird and other threatened species. The newly protected area, 12 miles from the town of Alvear in the northeastern province of Corrientes, spans nearly 3,200 acres.

Securing this land for conservation marks a significant milestone in the preservation of one of the most threatened and least protected grassland and wetland ecosystems in Argentina. The reserve is now official and operational. Ongoing fundraising will support remaining costs associated with land acquisition in this first phase, as well as plans to expand the reserve through additional agreements with landowners to protect Estancia La Rosita in its entirety.

“With the support of our donors and partners, we are helping to ensure that species that depend on well-preserved grasslands do not disappear as exotic timber production expands in the region,” said Hernán Casañas, Executive Director of Aves Argentinas.

Estancia La Rosita is home to unique and globally threatened biodiversity, including one of the largest breeding colonies of the Saffron-cowled Blackbird, a species that numbers fewer than 10,000 worldwide. In addition to this blackbird — a symbol of conservation and sustainable development of grasslands throughout Argentina — the reserve will ensure protected habitat for other at-risk species such as the Iberá Seedeater, Black-and-white Monjita, and the Strange-tailed Tyrant. More than 180 bird species have been documented at the location, in addition to declining mammals such as the marsh deer and the maned wolf.

Estancia La Rosita is located in the Aguapey River basin, one of Argentina’s most critical Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA), where only 0.1 percent of grasslands and scrublands are currently legally protected at the national level. They face landscape transformation, mainly due to pine and eucalyptus plantations that fragment and degrade natural grassland habitats.

“We celebrate this achievement together with our partners because the subtropical grasslands that are still preserved in Aguapey contain some of the largest numbers of globally threatened grassland bird species,” said Daniel Lebbin, ABC’s Vice President of Threatened Species. “Protecting part of this Key Biodiversity Area in Argentina is rewarding, important, and will result in a better future for threatened birds in the region.”

This reserve creation now takes on even greater importance with the United Nations (UN) having declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Building on the work that Aves Argentinas already carries out in collaboration with food producers across the country through the Grassland Alliance, the reserve will also support the production and broader adoption of sustainable livestock practices.

Together with the Centre for Applied Ecology (CECOAL-CONICET), Aves Argentinas will continue to coordinate the Saffron-cowled Blackbird Project, which has had a positive impact on the reproductive success of this iconic species. In addition, carbon capture tests will be conducted in the region’s natural grasslands under various livestock densities, in an effort to recognize and prioritize systems in which food production and wildlife conservation are compatible.