#GUANACONNECT
A movement to protect the migration of the species that connects landscapes and cultures in South America
A Species That Exemplifies South America
The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is an iconic herbivore of the arid grasslands and the Andes Mountains. As a migratory species, it depends on vast and connected habitats to feed, reproduce, and rest.
Restricting its seasonal migrations may threaten its survival. Many of these migrations have already been lost, and those that endure face a range of threats depending on the region. Protecting its migratory processes is essential.
Communities can flourish through nature tourism when guanacos are present in their landscapes. Their economies can take advantage of wild guanaco shearing, and in some countries, of products like guanaco leather and meat.
One Year, Two Opportunities
In 2024, the International Year of Camelids as declared by the United Nations:
1. We promoted the inclusion of guanacos in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) during COP14, to strengthen cross-border conservation initiatives between Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.
2. We celebrated the first International Guanaco Day on August 23rd to create awareness about the importance of conserving this species and its migrations, through which it connects the landscapes and cultures of countries in central and southern Latin America.
Protecting them is a shared responsibility
Click the images below to watch the reels.
Why Do Its Migrations Matter?
Migration is an essential aspect of guanaco life, allowing the species to sustain abundant populations, favoring the diversity and genetic structure of its populations, reducing excessive grazing, and avoiding competition with other species. Improving connectivity within the areas where it lives allows it to roam safely.
Healthy grasslands sequester carbon in their soil, contributing to adaptation and mitigation in the face of climate change. To adjust to future environmental change, it’s crucial to create a network of connected core areas, preserving biodiversity and facilitating the adaptation of species to their shifting surroundings.
The guanaco’s seasonal use of pastures allow soil and grass to regenerate, improving the integrity of the ecosystem. Its anatomical and physiological adaptations allow plants to maintain their structure and succession.
What Is Its Conservation Status?
In the last two hundred years, it’s estimated that the guanaco population decreased from 10-30 million individuals to approximately 2.5 million.
Up to 90% of its original populations may have disappeared or been drastically reduced.
Its distribution area shrunk to 40% of the range the species occupied in the past.
Human Pressures That Impact Its Conservation
In each country, the guanaco and its migratory processes face different challenges. For that reason, it’s necessary to coordinate efforts to achieve a regional strategy that promotes the coexistence of communities with the species and its conservation.
• Habitat deterioration due to overgrazing and the mining, oil, and gas industries.
• Competition with introduced herbivores over food and water.
• Barriers to movement (gates, highways, urban development) and roadkills.
• Predation by exotic carnivores (unsupervised dogs).
• Poaching.
• Crossbreeding with domestic camelids and illnesses.
• Lack of food and water due to climate change.
Regional Distribution
Who Supports This Initiative?
This regional and multi-organizational initiative seeks to promote awareness about this species, highlighting its migratory nature to promote cross-border conservation strategies.
Be Part of the Movement
By following the hashtag #GuanaConnect and sharing content on your social networks.
Photo credits: Santiago Sainz-Trápaga (AFONA) – Guanaco trapped in wire fence / Alejandro Carribero (AFONA) – Burning bush / Diego Cabañas – Guanaco in profile backlit.