Conservation projects news from the World Land Trust, an international wildlife conservation charity working to protect threatened wildlife habitats worldwide.
On 7 February, the President of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, visited the Pantanal in north-east Paraguay, and specifically Guyra Paraguay's Chaco-Pantanal Reserve, which was saved largely as a result of donations from World Land Trust (WLT) supporters. While in the reserve he stopped off for a few hours at the Giants Biological Field Station (again, funded by a supporter of WLT) which sits on the bank of the Río Negro (Black River).
Fernando Lugo (centre) in the Pantanal on his way to the Three Giants Biological Station. His group is led by Alberto Yanosky and Oscar Rhodes from Guyra Paraguay. 
The Three Giants Biological Station, situated on Guyra Paraguay's Chaco-Pantanal Reserve. (Click the image to see a larger version.)
The Pantanal is a haven for wildlife, and particularly birds that come to feed on the quantities of fish in the Río Negro. (Click the image to see a larger version.)Despite rainy weather, the President was able to see firsthand, the lush green vegetation on the banks of the river which is a mecca for wildlife, and also observe many of the bird species which flock to this secluded wildlife paradise. Birds of the region include an abundance of Wood Storks, White Storks and Anhingas, as well as Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons and other herons.
Guyra Paraguay's team, led by its Director, Alberto Yanosky, and Co-ordinator, Oscar Rhodes, had an opportunity to talk with the President about Guyra Paraguay's achievements over the past ten years, in its bid to save this important area of high biodiversity in perpetuity for conservation.
The President stressed the importance of the work Guyra Paraguay was doing and expressed a wish to return to spend more time in the region. After his visit he said that this was an area of great environmental importance which deserves to be recognized more widely.
Travel Republic, corporate supporters of WLT, have been raising funds for land purchase in Paraguay since June 2006, by making donations on behalf of every client booking a flight. By the end of 2008 a grand total of £75,842 had been raised which was transferred to Guyra Paraguay for the purchase of 'Property 9' in the Chaco-Pantanal Reserve. Travel Republic have confirmed their commitment for 2009 and requested that, as previously, the funds will be used for land purchase and protection in the Pantanal, working through Guyra Paraguay. WLT and Guyra Paraguay thank Travel Republic for this wonderful support for conservation.
Learn more about the Chaco/Pantanal Project in Paraguay
Labels: Paraguay
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Alberto Yanosky, Director of Guyra Paraguay wrote to WLT this morning to tell us that the President made a second visit to the Chaco-Pantanal Reserve last Friday and Saturday. Mr. Lugo left this inspiring message in the Three Giants visitor's book (English translation below):
Llegar a los Tres Gigantes es como tener en vivo la narración de la creación.
La naturaleza vive, y en crudo es lo más maravilloso que he visto.
Desde aquí hago este llamado que puede convertirse en un grito:
La conservación del medio ambiente en su estado natural es un imperativo si queremos realmente sobrevivir como humanidad.
Felicito a quienes apuestan calladamente se esfuerzan cotidianamente en asegurar la vida del futuro
Gracias a Guyra Paraguay por mostrar la maravilloso de la naturaleza
Fernando Lugo Mendez
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Arriving at The Three Giants is to live the story of Creation.
Nature lives, and to experience this in person is the most amazing thing that I have seen.
From here, I make this call, which could become a yell:
The conservation of the environment in its natural state is imperative if humanity truly wants to survive.
I thank all those who work in the background everyday to ensure this life for future generations.
Thank you, Guyra Paraguay, for showing me the wonder of nature.
Fernando Lugo Mendez
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