In order to promote the conservation of the caldén forest and its ecosystem, a symbol of the environment and identity of La Pampa, interpretive signs were designed and installed in the protected area, based on a collaborative initiative carried out by the Municipality and Wildlife Conservation Society Argentina.
Nueva cartelería en el Parque Los Pisaderos de Victorica, La Pampa. Crédito: WCS Argentina.
June 2025 – Los Pisaderos Municipal Protected Area in the town of Victorica, La Pampa, unveiled new signs on Friday, June 13, designed to provide residents and visitors with information about its valuable ecosystem—notably the iconic caldén tree—and the importance of preserving it. This collaborative conservation initiative began in 2024, promoted by the Municipality of Victorica and its Department of the Environment, together with WCS Argentina, a civil society organization that has been working in Argentina since the 1960s to conserve the country's wild environments and species, and with the participation of the community.
Los Pisaderos Park, a renowned natural space in Victorica that has been declared a Provincial Cultural Heritage and Historic Site, was reclassified in November 2024 as a Municipal Protected Area for conserving a portion of caldén forest, a tree native to Argentina. This ecosystem has suffered a drastic reduction in the country over the years, and currently 70% of it remains in La Pampa. The caldén forest is home to valuable forage resources; it is the habitat of numerous species, several of which are vulnerable or threatened, such as the crowned eagle and the yellow cardinal; and it contributes to climate change mitigation.
The park's new signage was designed based on a participatory workshop held in December 2024 that brought together more than 25 residents, who shared their experiences and perspectives to define the most notable environmental and cultural characteristics. Participants included neighbors, municipal authorities and workers, councilors, specialists in conservation and heritage interpretation, and members of the Provincial Water Resources Secretariat, the Rosa Moreno Mariqueo community, and schools. In addition, material provided by the Provincial Historical Archive of the Provincial Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Secretariat of Culture of La Pampa was used.
"Through a very enriching joint process with the community, these signs were developed to promote the park as a new protected area. It is a way of highlighting the importance of conserving the caldenal, along with other actions we are carrying out, such as supporting local producers who want to implement regenerative livestock management that improves their production and also contributes to restoring this ecosystem," says Lautaro Córdoba, caldenal landscape conservation coordinator at WCS Argentina.
Promoting the strength and resources of the caldenal
Given that Victorica was the first town established in the province and is known as “the birthplace of La Pampa,” Los Pisaderos Park is visited by numerous provincial schools. It is also a place of recreation and a meeting point for the community, hosting cultural and social activities such as the traditional parades of the National Livestock Festival, bird watching, and tours of the native forest.
The seven new signs provide an informative and visual guide for visitors. At the entrance, there is an orientation map with guidelines for coexistence and care, such as not littering, lighting fires, or entering with pets, among other specifications. The following signs provide detailed information and interesting facts to explore the fauna, flora, culture, and history of the place.
Línea de tiempo - Cartel diseñado por WCS Argentina.
Caldén, emblem of La Pampa
Some of the signs highlight the caldén, a species native to our country, also considered a symbol of La Pampa, which is featured on the province's coat of arms. This leafy tree can form forests or accompany grasslands, depending on the geography where it is found and the alterations caused by human activities. It is one of the most threatened ecosystems in Argentina, due to causes such as shrub encroachment and uncontrolled fires. Protected areas and planned management of productive fields can be solutions to reverse negative impacts and conserve the caldenal in perpetuity.
Saberes del caldenal - Cartel diseñado por WCS Argentina.
Protecting a balanced ecosystem
Other signs detail the biodiversity found in the caldén forest: numerous species that form communities and collaborate or compete in a delicate natural balance, such as the mara, the southern ant butterfly, the peludo, the naranjero, and the chañar tree.
En la diversidad está el equilibrio - Cartel diseñado por WCS Argentina.
A native landscape that opens the senses
In order to invite visitors to experience this natural environment with all five senses, a poster was designed that highlights the textures, aromas, colors, flavors, and sounds offered by the caldén forest: rough bark, woody herbs, dull and bright tones, sweet and bitter foods, birdsong, and the rustling of dry leaves.
Todo cobra sentido cuando se despierta nuestra curiosidad - Cartel diseñado por WCS Argentina.
"The posters seek to promote and rediscover this heritage, both the native forest and the stories and experiences that surround it. This promotion, together with the declaration of the park as a protected area, will surely open more possibilities for use and enjoyment, such as tourist, scientific, and educational activities, which will also inspire the conservation of this environment," says Martín Tinari, head of environmental education at WCS Argentina.
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CONTACT:
Debora Mazzola, WCS Argentina: +54 9 11 4064-8827, dmazzola@wcs.org