San Guillermo Reserve - Argentina - Unesco Bio

Biosphere Reserve Information
Argentina
SAN GUILLERMO Reserve
General Description
The San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve in the northwest of San Juan province represents the mixed mountain and highland systems in the foothills and mountains of the Andes occupying the west sector of Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza Provinces. The Biosphere Reserve constitutes two phytogeographical regions: the Chaco and the Andean region. The Chaco is a humid and swampy region extending from Bolivia and Paraguay to northern Argentina. The Andean region consists of steep and rugged highlands with river valleys and lakes, which support migrating species as the Andean flamingo and mammals as vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe). The Biosphere Reserve contains grasslands with or without shrubs and sub-desertic open matorral with valleys and steep slopes. It also comprises important archaeological sites and ancient indigenous villages in the Cerro las Tórtolas (6,323 metres above sea level), Cerro las Flechas (5,350 metres) and Cerro del Toro, an ancient ceremonial monument. Only 300 people (1999) live in the Biosphere Reserve temporarily, engaged mainly in mining activities, some cattle raising and hunting. A management plan is being elaborated with local authorities and local communities.
Major ecosystem type
Mixed mountain and highland systems
Major habitats & land cover types
Mountains with river valleys including Adesmia horrida, A. pinifolia, Senecio oreophyton, Artemisa mendozana etc.; grassland with or without shrubs characterized by Stipa frigida, Lacium spp., Adesmia horrida etc.; sub-desertic open matorral with valleys and steep slopes including species such as Larrea divaricata, Bulnesia retama and Atriplex lampa; open shrub matorral
Location: 28°27' to 29°55'S; 69°05' to 70°02'W29°10'S; 69°20'W (central point)

Lapa - Costa Rica - Eco Reserve

Telephone 011- 506 - 2735-5130 or

011 - 506 - 2735-5281

Fax in Costa Rica 011- 506 - 2735-5179

Mail:

info@laparios.comUSA "

Mail Drop" -> Box 025216-SJO 706, Miami, FL 33102-5216
"Communicating with our office via e-mail, phone/fax is difficult.

Often hours pass without any phone service to the remote Osa Peninsula.

Please have patience and keep trying."

Welcome
Rainforest wilderness adventure in a class by itself...
Set in a private nature reserve spread over 1,000 acres of Central America's last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica, Lapa Rios Ecolodge overlooks the pristine point where the Golfo Dulce meets the wild Pacific Ocean, a destination matching everyone's idea of paradise.
John and Karen Lewis first envisioned Lapa Rios a private nature reserve. The Minnesota couple was driven by a dream that required liquidating all their assets to finance the purchase of a large tract of rainforest and to build a small, supporting ecotourism project. A conservation easement elaborated by The Nature Conservancy and CEDARENA will ensure this primary forest be preserved in perpetuity, the land never to be developed. The 930-acre Lapa Rios Reserve helps buffer the Osa Peninsula’s Corcovado National Park and serves as a wildlife corridor.

Galapagos Island Reserve - Ecuador

Location

The Galapagos archipelago lies about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. It is comprised of 19 islands, 42 islets, and more than 100 cays and encompasses more than 3,000 square terrestrial miles and over 52,000 square miles of marine areas, making it one of the five largest marine reserves in the world.
AnimalsAlthough all the fauna of the Galapagos have ancestors on the mainland, the species have evolved in isolation for more than 4 million years, making the islands a paradise for unique species found nowhere else on Earth. These include 11 different giant tortoise species (each species residing on a different island), “vampire” finches, which evolved to include blood in their diets, Galapagos sea-lion, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos penguin, land iguana, marine iguana, and flightless cormorant.
The marine reserve, considered one of the most biologically rich areas in the Pacific, lodges hammerhead sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and whales, as well as invertebrate species such as sea cucumbers, lobsters, and the sea hedgehog.
PlantsMost of the terrestrial parts of the Galapagos are covered by xeric shrublands, a habitat type that is characterized by bushes and short and stubby trees and cacti. However, there are a few areas covered by more humid zones with plants such as the giant daisy, which is found nowhere else on Earth.

El Pantanal Reserve - Brazil - South America

Reserve in the Brazilian Pantanal

is awarded as the best tourism attraction 2009

Cabeceira do Prata cattle ranch in the municipality of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, which borders the Pantanal Wetlands.
Created in 1999, the reserve is located on the Cabeceira do Prata cattle ranch in the municipality of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, which borders the Pantanal Wetlands.© Haroldo Palo Junior30 Oct 2008For the second time, the Natural Heritage Private Reserve (RPPN) Rio da Prata was awarded first place as “The Best Attraction” by Guia Brasil Quatro Rodas, a famous Brazilian guide-book for travelers. The result was presented in September 22th in São Paulo and the winners will be listed in the 2009 version of the guide.The award is a result of a poll carried out by Quatro Rodas in its internet site Viajeaqui (which could be translated to English as “Travel Here”) during two months to enlist the best attractions, hotels and restaurants of the year. Last year, the reserve was also awarded with the prize and is listed in the Guide 2008. Created in 1999, the reserve is located on the Cabeceira do Prata cattle ranch in the municipality of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, which borders the Pantanal Wetlands. It belongs to the Private Owners Heritage Reserves Association (Repams), partner of WWF-Brazil to promote the creation of RPPNs and the protection of the Pantanal forest and rivers.

Cerro Calendaria Reserve - Ecuador

Cerro Candelaria Reserve
Current size, May 2008: 2,677 hectares (6,611 acres)
Cerro Candelaria Reserve is a new, exciting World Land Trust project in Ecuador. Working with Ecuadorian organisation Fundación Ecominga, the proposed Cerro Candelaria Reserve is located in Central Ecuador on the Eastern Andes. The land purchase aims to create a protected corridor between two existing National Parks, preserving a large tract of virgin forest, which contains a unique diversity of endemic orchids. Fundación Ecominga is also purchasing and protecting two other reserves, which will form the northern part of this corridor, in partnership with World Land Trust-US.
Cerro Candelaria
Cerro Candelaria is:
Situated within the transition zone between the Andes and the Amazon;
Located within the Upper Pastaza Watershed, in the province of Tungurahua, Ecuador;
2113 hectares in size, consisting of primary Cloud Forest and Paramo (tropical alpine grasslands);
Bordering Sangay National Park and extends the protected area north (towards Los Lianganates National Park);
A rich centre for plant endemism;
A unique location for orchids, including new species of the orchid genus Teagueia;
Home to other rare and poorly known orchid species including some as-yet undescribed Platysteke species (world's smallest orchid);
Home to a wide range of mammals including: Spectacled Bear and Mountain Tapir.
Sobralia luerorum - an orchid commonly found in the lower parts of Cerro Candelaria. Photo © Lou Jost/EcoMinga
Limited infrastructure is planned for this reserve, with future project activities including development of a trail and basic cabins. The neighbouring community have shown support for this project and some adjacent landowners have started planting 'bird pastures' (hillsides covered with trees for nectar feeding birds and fruit eating tanagers) to attract birds, and also in order to show visitors the wildlife of the area.
Teagueia Orchids
Over the last few years, one of the most spectacular plant radiations in South America has been uncovered at Cerro Candelaria: an explosion of speciation in the Teagueia orchid genus. Originally only six species of this genus were known world wide, however 28 new species to science have been discovered on four neighbouring mountains in the Upper Pastaza Watershed, with 16 species found within the proposed reserve, growing at elevations ranging between 3100 - 3800m. DNA analysis (from Kew Botanical Gardens and Ohio State University) shows that all these new species have evolved locally, and are not closely related to the existing species in the genus. This species radiation is thought to be the densest and richest localised occurrence in South America and far more dramatic than the famous species radiations Darwin discovered in the Galapagos Islands.

Chaparri Reserve - Peru

Chaparrí is a 34,412 hectare community-owned and managed private conservation area located in the dry forests of northern Peru.
The reserve is one of the best protected dry forest areas and is home to a range of wildlife, including many endemic and threatened species such as the:Andean or Spectacled Bear, Andean Condor, White-winged Guan,
Sechuran Fox, Guanaco, Tumbes Tyrant.
The reserve is named for the spectacular Chaparri mountain that dominates the landscape; this mountain was sacred for the Muchik people and is still revered by Shamans throughout Peru. It is now a model community-led conservation and ecotourism project where local people benefit from protecting their natural resources. Additionally Chaparri is the centre for scientific investigation into dry forest ecosystems and the species that live there.
The reserve may be visited on day trips (prior booking is recommended) or by staying at the Chaparri EcoLodge. Visits can only be undertaken with a local guide and by paying an entrance fee which goes to the community

The lodge has 6 en-suite double cabins and five double rooms with shared bathroom facilities. All buildings are constructed in traditional style of local materials (adobe and stone) to ensure they blend into the environment, reduce the carbon footprint of importing materials and provide local jobs during construction.• Hot water is provided from solar water heaters. • Electricity is provided from solar panels. • Used waters are treated through a sedimentation tank and horizontal flow reedbed treatment system before being used for irrigation. An open air dining area maximises the visitor’s interaction with the local wildlife, with Peruvian White-tailed Deer and Sechuran Foxes being frequent visitors during meal times. Filtered drinking water is available at all times. The menu uses local produce where possible and is a fusion of traditional local cuisine with international elements prepared by staff from the local community – food cooked in the traditional earth oven is a particular speciality. All meals are served in a buffet style. Vegetarian options are available with prior notice. Around the lodge there are communal areas where one can swim in the pool in the stream, rest in a hammock or just sit back and enjoy the view. Out of respect for others these areas are smoke-free and no music is to be played (with the exception of occasional after dinner guitar and singing sessions). We also ask guests to be considerate with their use of cell phones in these areas now coverage has reached the lodge. Trails; there is a network of trails and some hides and viewpoints for wildlife viewing.

See Activities sectioEmail or Call Us on +44 (0)1285 643333 for a detailed itineraryn for more details.