Ecoportal de Piedra is a natural reserve located in the Santa Bàrbara district of Argentina, on the oriental side of the Andes. The Reserve is recognised by the provincial government and certified as an NGO. It is 900 ha in size and protects Yungas mountain forest and Chaco Serrano woodland.

The Reserve is self-sustained through ecotourism activities such as birdwatching and horseback riding. The Reserve has comfortable lodges, it is an ideal spot for nature photography, trekking or taking the 4x4 excursions up into the mountains.

The Reserve promotes scientific research and environmental education, with the goal that these efforts reach farther than the protected land area itself, promoting mountain forest conservation. 

Conservation Highlights:

1. Protecting 12 regional endemic bird species and several endangered ones
2. Doing environmental education with people of all ages
3. Collaborating with many scientific research projects, as result having found new species recognised by science
4. Protecting different mammals like the tapir Tapirus terrestis and six different feline species
5. Functioning as the centre of a natural corridor between three governmental protected areas

Future Aims:

1. Continuing developing educational projects around the region
2. Being able to incorporate new lands around this corridor to ensure its protection
3. Studying the nesting in our reserve of the Orange Breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus
4. Promoting our relation and exchange with other protected areas around the world

Images provided.