La Payunia Protected Natural Area sustains a migratory population of guanacos that can travel up to 150 kilometers without interruptions—a unique phenomenon in the world for this species. Now, this migration is better protected thanks to the purchase and donation of private lands by WCS Argentina, Greater Good Charities, and GreaterGood.com. These lands were accepted by the provincial government of Mendoza, Argentina, and are now publicly owned.
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City of Mendoza, Argentina, March 24, 2025 –The Province of Mendoza has accepted the donation of 40,000 hectares of private land within the La Payunia Protected Natural Area, located in the department of Malargüe.
This land within La Payunia Protected Natural Area is known for its stunning landscape of volcanoes and plains; and is home to a rich diversity of native plant and animal species, including the lesser rhea (choique), the culpeo fox, the puma, the Andean cat, and the Andean condor, as well as many endemic species of plants and reptiles. It is also the site of the world's largest guanaco migration, a species that requires vast, connected habitats for feeding and reproduction.
Although the land was within the reserve, it was privately owned until it was acquired with funding from the global nonprofit, Greater Good Charities, and GreaterGood.com, through the efforts of WCS Argentina. The donated lands will be recategorized as a Provincial Park, one of the most protected categories under Mendoza's protected areas law.
Alfredo Cornejo, Governor of the Province of Mendoza said, "We gladly receive this donation, which we will soon be approved through the Provincial Legislature.”
Said Dr. Bryna Donnelly, Executive Vice President for Greater Good Charities “This contribution reflects our deep commitment to habitat sustainability and restoration as well as species protection. We love that the land will be publically available for future generations. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the ecosystem for years to come."
Said Andrés Novaro, Director of Terrestrial Conservation at WCS Argentina: "This milestone of transferring private land to public ownership promotes the conservation of this unique ecosystem in our country and enables nature-friendly activities, such as scientific research and sustainable tourism. These practices do not harm the environment and create opportunities for local communities.”
Mariano González Roglich, Director of WCS Argentina, said: "La Payunia is a gem of Argentina, Patagonia, and Mendoza. We have been working with the provincial government for over 20 years, spanning different administrations and achieving significant milestones like this one, which reaffirms the province’s commitment to nature conservation. It also reflects the importance of long-term collaborative work, to which Greater Good Charities and GreaterGood.com have contributed as donors."
WCS has been working in the area since 2004, when it began conducting guanaco population surveys and mapping their movements alongside CONICET (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research) researchers. With the contribution of local livestock herders, they were able to confirm the species' migratory patterns.
The 40,000 hectares acquired and donated will help maintain connectivity to support the guanacos' natural movement patterns. This new area encompasses much of their winter range, complementing the conservation actions of 2019, when an additional 42,000 hectares were incorporated into public ownership, securing their summer breeding grounds. During these seasonal migrations, between 25,000 and 40,000 guanacos travel up to 150 kilometers round-trip. Unlike other parts of Patagonia, where guanacos face barriers such as roads and fences, La Payunia provides an uninterrupted habitat. Guanacos are native herbivores of South America, playing a crucial role in ecosystem balance.
Additionally, guanacos are an essential food source for predators such as pumas and for scavengers like Andean condors, completing the native ecological cycle. While the guanaco is not globally endangered, many of its populations have been drastically reduced, and its migrations are under threat. Recognizing this, in 2024, the species was included in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), urging governments to improve management plans for its protection.
La Payunia is Mendoza’s largest protected natural area and one of the largest in Patagonia, covering 665,000 hectares in total. It consists of both public and private lands, which are crucial for the proper functioning of the ecosystem.
Currently, scientific institutions such as CONICET and conservation organizations like WCS Argentina conduct research in the area, including guanaco migration studies and conservation projects focused on regenerative livestock farming. WCS Argentina also collaborates with the provincial government to strengthen the reserve’s management plan, while Mendoza’s park ranger corps carries out an annual condor monitoring program.
Beyond its ecological importance, La Payunia is famous for its spectacular landscapes, featuring over 800 volcanic cones and vibrant plains, offering huge potential for tourism development. Due to its uniqueness and exceptional natural value, it is a candidate for designation as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
The recent milestone of acquiring private land for donation to the provincial government is part of an initiative that began in 2013. This achievement was made possible through a sustained collaboration between public and private organizations, including the Subsecretariat of Environment and the Directorate of Protected Natural Areas (Ministry of Environment and Energy of Mendoza), WCS Argentina, and Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina in its early stages. The initiative also received support from the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network and funding from Greater Good Charities and GreaterGood.com, which provided the necessary resources for the process. ###
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