Carbon Balanced
World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced programme enables individuals and organisations to offset their residual greenhouse gas emissions through the protection &h...
Organisation’s aim: To protect areas throughout Paraguay, safeguarding varied habitats and species across the country. Guyra Paraguay’s work with local communities is very important to the organisation, as it is committed to creating a sustainable future for both wildlife and local people.
Partner History
In 1997 a group of individuals resolved to create an organisation, Guyra Paraguay, with the aim of preserving bird species in Paraguay. Concerned about the widespread destruction of Paraguay’s habitats, they chose to focus on birds as important indicators of overall biodiversity.
Partnership with WLT
Alberto Yanosky, Executive Director of Guyra Paraguay, visited the World Land Trust (WLT) office in 2004, meeting John Burton (CEO) to discuss the possibility of working together. WLT and Guyra signed a partnership agreement soon after, and in 2005 land purchase began in the Chaco-Pantanal.
To date, WLT has funded land purchase and protection in the Chaco-Pantanal, Atlantic Rainforest and Dry Chaco, as well as supporting reforestation at the San Rafael reserve in 2007 and 2008.
Guyra Paraguay now helps protect and manage over two and half million acres of threatened habitats throughout Paraguay. WLT supports their efforts through the Keepers of the Wild appeal, putting more reserve rangers in the field to help safeguard this vast area.
WLT and Guyra Paraguay continue to work together to develop an innovative REDD+ project with the aim of tackling the country’s large-scale deforestation.
Other projects and activities
- Developing databases in order to identify species conservation priorities, including mapping Important Bird Areas (IBAs);
- Identifying and prioritising sites of greatest conservation importance in Paraguay;
- Monitoring the fragmentation of the main eco-regions in Paraguay. These include Atlantic Rainforest, Cerrado, Misiones’ Grasslands, Pantanal, and Chaco;
- Integrating social and economic development with ecological requirements in areas of conservation importance;
- Undertaking environmental education throughout Paraguay;
- Providing access to a field station, the Three Giants Lodge, for university students studying conservation.
Awards and Achievements
2007: One of the country’s leading newspapers, Ultima Hora, recognises Guyra Paraguay as one of the Top Paraguayan Institutions of the year, for their struggle to protect biodiversity often in great adversity.
2008: Guyra Paraguay received a Partnership Award at the BirdLife Awards.
2012: Celebrate their 15th anniversary
2013: In June, Guyra Paraguay Executive Director, Alberto Yanosky received the National Geographic/Buffett Award for Conservation Leadership in Latin America. In the same month Alberto was made a BirdLife Member of Honour at the 2013 BirdLife World Congress.
2013: In July, Alberto Yanosky received the National Order of Merit in the grade of Commander. This was in recognition of Guyra’s crucial work for preservation of environmental resources.