Alta Vista, Cerro Bayo, and Alta Vista II Ranchs

Context and objectives

Laguna El Islote, located in Cerro Bayo Ranch, was historically one of the most important sites for the Hooded Grebe, harboring more than 1,000 individuals of this endemic species in the 1980s. However, in 2003, the lagoon was stocked with rainbow trout, which had a significant ecological impact and led to the collapse of the environment as a breeding site for the grebe.

Faced with this situation, since 2010 we have been working with Torcuato Sozio on a process of restoring the system, to recover the ecological value of the lagoon and create conditions for the return of the Hooded Grebe.

This work marked the beginning of a path of collaboration that continued with the creation of the El Islote Private Reserve, the construction of the “Mauricio Rumboll” refuge, and later, the expansion of conservation actions to other ranches of the Sozio family, such as Alta Vista and Alta Vista II.

Our actions

In Laguna El Islote, we are implementing a series of management actions to restore the ecological balance of the aquatic system, focusing on the recovery of the Hooded Grebe and other aquatic bird species' habitats. One of the main lines of work is active fisheries management, which includes the systematic removal of rainbow trout to reduce the biomass of introduced fish. To date, more than 4,000 kg of trout have been extracted, significantly alleviating the predatory pressure on native organisms. In addition, we implement measures to control trout reproduction by constructing fences and containment systems that prevent their migration from the lagoon into surrounding streams, thereby interrupting their reproductive cycle. In parallel, we conduct continuous monitoring of fauna, with particular attention to aquatic birds, to evaluate the ecosystem's response to management actions. Complementing these restoration tasks, we also work on the development of sustainable, productive activities, such as low-impact ecotourism, including environmentally responsible sport fishing, bird watching, and alternative cultural tourism. In Alta Vista Ranch, there is also one of the few rock art shelters in the center of the province, which adds a valuable heritage component to the proposal.