Estancias Alta Vista, Cerro Bayo, and Alta Vista II

Context and objectives

Laguna El Islote, located in Estancia Cerro Bayo, was historically one of the most important sites for the Macá Tobiano, harboring more than 1,000 individuals of this endemic species in the 1980s. However, in 2003, the lagoon was stocked with rainbow trout, which generated a strong ecological impact and the collapse of the environment as a breeding site for the macá.

Faced with this situation, since 2010 we began working with Torcuato Sozio in a process of restoration of the system, with the aim of recovering the ecological value of the lagoon and restoring the conditions for the return of the Macá Tobiano.

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, with the expansion of conservation actions towards other estancias of the Sozio family, such as Alta Vista and Alta Vista II.

Our actions

In Laguna El Islote, we are carrying out a series of management actions aimed at restoring the ecological balance of the aquatic system, focusing on the recovery of the habitat of the Macá Tobiano and other species of aquatic birds. One of the main lines of work is active fisheries management, which includes the systematic removal of rainbow trout in order 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 the reproduction of trout, through the construction of fences and containment systems that prevent their migration from the lagoon to the surrounding streams, thus interrupting their reproductive cycle. In parallel, we carry out continuous monitoring of fauna, with special attention to aquatic birds, to evaluate the response of the ecosystem to management actions. Complementing these restoration tasks, we also work on the development of sustainable productive activities, such as low-impact ecotourism, which includes environmentally responsible sport fishing, bird watching, and alternative cultural tourism. In Estancia Alta Vista, 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.