Why Volunteer in Argentina?
Argentina is a huge country, the eighth largest in the world, with a surprising diversity of landscapes and natural habitats. The 15 distinct eco-regions span everything from the vast Patagonian steppe in the south, the Andes mountain range in the west and the spectacular Iguazu Falls and Atlantic rainforest in the north-east.
Our programme lies in the northerly province of Corrientes, home to one of the world’s largest wetlands complexes, the Esteros del Iberá. The Iberá wetlands have become something of a conservation success story over recent years, thanks in large part to the world-renowned conservationists Douglas and Kristine Tompkins. Their legacy has inspired a rewilding movement that has seen the reintroduction of several emblematic species native to the area, including the giant anteater, red-and-green macaw, giant river otter and the majestic jaguar. The wetlands are also home to over 370 species of birds, while the lagoons and channels are teeming with capybara, caiman and yellow anaconda.
Iberá means “shimmering waters” in the local Guaraní language.
Today much of the Iberá wetlands are protected, but the balance of life is still in a fragile state. Massive agricultural expansion in the production of crops and beef during the latter half of the 20th century caused almost irreversible destruction to the local ecosystems. Forests were felled, grasslands ploughed and the remaining land deeply fragmented. The altered landscape makes the area more prone to wildfires, which have torn through the entire region over recent years and continue to wreak havoc for the local communities.
Frontiers On Foot is ready to complement the efforts made by a small but determined network of organisations and private nature reserves in northern Argentina. By partnering with local experts and conservationists, we will work together to safeguard the habitat of iconic keystone species like the jaguar, south american tapir, collared peccary and maned wolf.
Gain valuable conservation field skills & experience!
Be a part of the exciting conservation movement in northern Argentina. Emulate the sensation of being on an African safari as we conduct game counts either on foot, in a vehicle, by boat or on horseback. Regular camera trap analysis is conducted to keep track of the movements of some the area’s more elusive large mammals. Species monitoring and contributions to citizen science will bolster our data for the region and give us valuable insights in population trends over time. A large protected area requires a large amount of maintenance and upkeep, and our volunteers will play a vital roll in preserving and updating the trail network that criss crosses the marshes. We will be monitoring and managing invasive species in all our projects to reclaim the land that has been lost over the years, as part of our agressive shared aim with all our partners in Argentina to restore the wetlands to their former glory.
We will help you every step of the way
Volunteers will be able to reach a member of FoF staff from the moment an enquiry is made. We will liaise continuously with all of our prospective volunteers to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made and that any questions or concerns are promptly addressed, providing a seamless and supportive experience throughout the entire process.
One of our representatives will be on hand to take care of everything at ground level upon arrival, including airport pickups and transport to the project location. From this point on, Frontiers On Foot, together with our partners, will combine to create a truly unforgettable volunteer experience. Each volunteer cycle will last a minimum of 4 weeks with additional weeks available for those wanting a longer stay.
It is worth noting that travel to and from Argentina is not included in any of the programme fees, however we are happy to provide travel advice from your country of origin.
Get Involved
Interested in volunteering in Argentina? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We can't wait to hear from you!