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What you can do
Report wildlife trafficking and keeping unverified
If you see wild animals for sale or kept illegally, tell the authorities. In Tucumán, see the "Important information" page on this site, which links the Dirección de Flora, Fauna Silvestre y Suelos forms. Aves Argentinas publishes a page listing the bodies that take reports. If you find a wild animal, do not keep or move it yourself: notify the authorities. If you already keep one, do not release it on your own: it may need rehabilitation. A national email channel (faunayfloradenuncia@ambiente.gob.ar) appears only in a 2017 blog post and we could not confirm it on an official page.
Aves Argentinas: tráfico (indicado en su cuadernillo) ↗ Cuadernillo de tráfico, Aves Argentinas (PDF) ↗
Sources: mail.avesargentinas.org.ar ↗ · chequeado.com ↗ · derechoenzapatillas.com ↗Do not buy wild animals or their products
Each time a wild animal is bought, even out of pity, more animals get captured (Aves Argentinas). The law regulates keeping, transit and trade of wild fauna and its products. Do not buy parrots, tortoises, monkeys, foxes or skins. Do not give them as gifts.
Sources: mail.avesargentinas.org.ar ↗ · chequeado.com ↗Citizen science: add your sightings
ArgentiNat is Argentina's iNaturalist portal, promoted by Fundación Vida Silvestre. You upload photos of plants, animals and fungi and the community helps identify them. There are iNaturalist projects for San Miguel de Tucumán, Yerba Buena and Tafí Viejo, such as Competencia Natural de la Ciudad 2022 and Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur 2022. These are past-event projects; check for newer editions. For birds, eBird Argentina is run by Aves Argentinas with the Cornell Lab; no training needed, just log what you see on the web or app. EcoRegistros is another collaborative platform for ecological records (we did not verify its Tucumán coverage). Sensitive data: do not publish exact locations of nests or threatened species.
ArgentiNat ↗ eBird Argentina ↗ EcoRegistros ↗ iNaturalist: Competencia Natural de la Ciudad 2022 (Tucumán) ↗ iNaturalist: GBS 2022 Tucumán ↗ iNaturalist: proyectos en Yerba Buena ↗
Sources: lanacion.com.ar ↗ · argentina.gob.ar ↗ · inaturalist.org ↗ · ecoregistros.org ↗Plant natives and avoid privet
Privet (Ligustrum lucidum, "siempreverde") is an invasive alien species in the Yungas. The national Environment ministry's official page classes it as a controlled-use species and says it displaces native species. A UNT study in Sierra de San Javier found drier soils in privet forest than in native forest in the dry season. An expert quoted by La Gaceta says it should not be planted and nurseries should not sell it. The article also names crataegus, mulberry and black locust as invaders. Do not remove privet without a plan: removal without replacement can leave hillsides bare. For urban trees, La Gaceta cites a specialist who recommends native species suited to the space and advises against poplar, willow and eucalyptus because of roots and weight. It names guarán, arrayán, mato, chal chal, brea, chañar, garabato, aguaribay and queñoa as native. We did not verify tipa, pacará or lapacho as an official Tucumán recommendation, nor a specific nursery that sells natives.
Ligustro, ficha de Ambiente de la Nación ↗ La Gaceta: Siempreverde, el terrible alien de la yunga ↗ Estudio UNT sobre ligustro y agua (Bosque) ↗
Sources: argentina.gob.ar ↗ · lagaceta.com.ar ↗ · revistabosque.org ↗ · lagaceta.com.ar ↗Fire prevention in the dry season unverified
According to Meteored, the high wildfire season in the NOA (including Tucumán) runs July to December and varies with weather. The Tucumán government prohibits burning garbage, pasture and crops (per a 2020 news report). Do not light fires outside permitted places and do not toss cigarette butts. A 2020 article says fires are reported to Tucumán Defensa Civil on 103; we did not find this on a current official page, so confirm it. Forest fires must be reported to the nearest authority.
Meteored: temporada alta de incendios ↗
Sources: meteored.com.ar ↗ · contextotucuman.com ↗Volunteering at Aconquija National Park
The National Parks Administration runs an unpaid volunteer program with a certificate. Aconquija National Park (Tucumán) is listed among parks with an approved program. To apply, email aconquija@apn.gob.ar. According to La Gaceta (January 2025), volunteers must be over 18 and cover their own transport and food. No fixed dates are published: ask the park.
Programa Nacional de Voluntariado en Parques Nacionales ↗
Sources: argentina.gob.ar ↗ · lagaceta.com.ar ↗Visit Horco Molle: your ticket helps unverified
According to La Gaceta (July 2024), Horco Molle Experimental Reserve ticket revenue funds conservation projects for the toucan, an endemic marsupial frog and tapir reintroduction. It opens daily 9 to 18. There are workshops on native flora, plant propagation and bird watching for schools and families, by prior request. Check current prices and hours.
Sources: lagaceta.com.ar ↗Important information: injured or trafficked wildlife →
What the law says
Law 22.421 (1981) on Fauna Conservation puts the keeping, possession, transit, use, trade and processing of wild fauna and its products under its regime (art. 4). Hunting requires the landowner's consent and a licence (art. 16). Hunting species whose capture or trade is prohibited carries 2 months to 2 years in prison (art. 25). Anyone who knowingly transports, buys, sells or trades poached products gets the same penalties (art. 27). There are fines, seizure of animals and closure of businesses for repeat offenders (art. 28). The law has no specific procedure for private citizen reports. Each province designates its enforcement authority (art. 21). Fine amounts are the original 1981 figures, updatable.
Sources: argentina.gob.ar ↗ · argentina.gob.ar ↗Organisations working in the Yungas
Fundación ProYungas
NGO founded in 1999. Works on conservation and sustainable development in Argentina's Norte Grande with government, universities, companies and communities.
How to help: We found no published donation, membership or volunteering mechanism. Contact listed on GBIF: biodiversidad@proyungas.org.ar, Perú 1180, Yerba Buena. Write to ask.
proyungas.org.ar ↗ unverified
Sources: gbif.org ↗ · weadapt.org ↗Fundación Miguel Lillo
Scientific and cultural institution in Tucumán, founded 1941. Does natural science research and runs the Museo de Ciencias Naturales.
How to help: We did not verify donations or volunteering. You can visit the museum; confirm hours on their site.
lillo.org.ar ↗ unverified
Sources: fao.org ↗Reserva Experimental Horco Molle (UNT)
89 ha reserve and botanical garden in the Yungas with environmental education, wildlife rescue and restoration.
How to help: Visit and request school workshops. The article mentions Instagram @jardinhorcomolle. No donation or volunteering verified.
↗ unverified
Sources: lagaceta.com.ar ↗Parques Nacionales (APN), P.N. Aconquija
National unpaid volunteer program in protected areas, including Aconquija.
How to help: Email aconquija@apn.gob.ar.
argentina.gob.ar ↗
Sources: argentina.gob.ar ↗Aves Argentinas
National ornithological association, BirdLife partner. Administers eBird Argentina with Cornell Lab. Publishes a guide on wildlife trafficking.
How to help: Card donation via donaronline.org (MercadoPago); we could not confirm it is the official channel. Verify on avesargentinas.org.ar. eBird contact: ebird@avesargentinas.org.ar.
avesargentinas.org.ar ↗ unverified
Sources: donaronline.org ↗ · argentina.gob.ar ↗Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (ArgentiNat)
Promotes ArgentiNat, Argentina's iNaturalist portal.
How to help: Create an account and upload sightings.
argentinat.org ↗ unverified
Sources: lanacion.com.ar ↗