Hectares crossed
by rivers and streams
Hectares of nature reserve in corridors for
native terrestrial wildlife
Hectares of grasslands for
bird sanctuary in this ecosystem
The protection and conservation of nature has been part of Las Marías' work culture since its beginnings.
At Las Marías we monitor the natural resources, taking care of the vegetation, wildlife and the purity of the lagoons and watercourses, on an annual basis, together with the Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral (CECOAL) and the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE).
One of them is through the analysis of samples taken at different strategic locations in the watercourses.
Taking care for water begins with responsible agriculture. In our case, for example, planting our crops in contour lines prevents erosion and contributes to preserve the cleanliness and clarity of streams and lagoons.
We developed an ecological corridor in which we do not cultivate crops in order to interconnect the native landscapes and allow the free passage of animals. A large number and variety of species, from capybaras, foxes, deer, monkeys, and even big cats, move freely within an ecosystem in balance.
Hunting and fishing have always been forbidden in our establishment and the fauna feels and moves as in its natural habitat, even in cultivated areas.
As part of the fauna monitoring, a count of mammals is carried out through "camera traps", in conjunction with the UNNE. Among the large mammals is the puma, whose presence and proximity speaks of the diversity of food and the health of the ecosystem in which it is found, since it does not need to move to another area to feed.
The fields of Cabaña Las Marías are part of the Alianza del Pastizal initiative that promotes livestock production while preserving nearly 20 species of birds and mammals at risk of extinction. There can be seen specimens of birds as the cachilo de antifaz, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, gray-crowned and white-breasted birds, small and large coludo, monjita dominicana, yellow-breasted birds, yellow-throated, yetapá de collar and Becasina gigante (all of them threatened birds), whose record in Argentina only appears in the Estancia María Concepción, belonging to Las Marías. Deer from the pampas and specimens of aguará guazú, two emblematic mammals at risk of extinction, are also often seen.
Promoted by Aves Argentinas, Vida Silvestre Foundation, Bird Live International and with funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the initiative surveyed different areas of our country in 2008 chose Las Marías from the beginning as a pilot test to support and promote the conservation of natural grasslands and their biodiversity in the region.
