Sagittaria

Sagittaria

Swiss Association for Environmental Protection in Argentina

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The Atlantic Rainforest Is Critically Endangered

Over 90 percent of the Mata Atlântica rainforest—one of the oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth—has already been destroyed by deforestation and intensive agricultural practices. Today, vast monocultures dominate the landscape, while indigenous communities are increasingly losing their ancestral homes. Sagittaria is working to protect this unique region south of the Iguazú Falls through focused and sustained efforts.

Protecting the Forest – An Integrated Strategy

Through the generous support of donors, Sagittaria acquires vital sections of the rainforest—hectare by hectare. We return these lands to the Mbya Guaraní, an Indigenous community that has coexisted harmoniously with this ancient forest for centuries. Deeply connected to their ancestral environment, the Mbya play a crucial role in countering deforestation and preserving the forest’s exceptional biodiversity through their presence. Every hectare safeguarded marks a significant step toward protecting our natural heritage—for the Mbya, for the environment, and for future generations.

Sagittaria has already preserved over 800 hectares of Atlantic rainforest and returned it to the Mbya.

Matthias Bernhard, President of Sagittaria

Help Us Protect More Rainforest Land

Sagittaria has the opportunity to secure further threatened rainforest areas – help us in preserving this unique flora and fauna from deforestation and in standing with Indigenous communities who call it home. Your donation makes the difference!

The left-hand side displays a timelapse illustrating the deforestation in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil in the period 1984 – 2022. The slightly larger green area in the centre-right of the film shows the province of Misiones. (Google Earth)

We give our All to Save the Rainforest!

As a small association, Sagittaria’s structure is entirely built on voluntary work. This means that any administrative costs and the running of the association are borne by the board members themselves.

The diagram on the right shows the costs covered by donations. More than 90% of your donations and a bigger part of membership fees are used directly to purchase forest areas. The remaining per cent cover costs related to the projects and exchange rates, as well as expenses for advertising and printing materials. Other costs are administrative nature, such as website maintenance and local operational expenses.

Thanks to our lean organisational structure, we can ensure that as much of the donated funds as possible are used directly on the ground to save the rainforest!