ABOUT US

AMBÁ is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to restore the emotional bond of human beings with nature and regenerate ecosystems.

Since our beginnings in 2016 in the Sierras de Carapé, we have expanded our activities and currently focus mainly in this area and in Río Negro, in the area of the Esteros de Farrapos National Park and Uruguay River Islands.

The fundamental premise of our work is the development of the nature production model, which seeks to achieve an ecological reconnection promoted by a commitment to ecosystem restoration as a basis for the development of local communities and regenerative economies.

WHY AMBÁ?

The name we chose for our organization is inspired by ancient tribal concepts. For the Guarani people, Ambá is the place to set our direction, our highest purpose. For the Udegei Indians, native to the Russian Far East, Ambá is the Amur tiger: the largest feline of Siberia, which for them is the personification of the Spirit of the Forest.

Along our journey, we have discovered that the presence of felines marks the richness and abundance of biodiversity that lives in Sierras de Carapé. That is why we chose to call ourselves AMBÁ, to honor all the beings that guard this richness and inhabit it. With humility and joy, we integrate ourselves to the service of the ecosystems to restore the lost balance.

OUR APPROACH

The «nature production» model is an approach that integrates the well-being of ecosystems with that of communities, where nature conservation and social and economic prosperity merge.

It is thus an opportunity for conservation, thanks to the possibility of generating complete ecosystems; an alternative for sustainable development, giving rise to new forms of restorative economy; and an ideal context for promoting rural communities and neo-ruralization.

The preservation of these environments is central to fostering sustainable development, where the regional socio-cultural heritage and local restorative economies, such as ecotourism, pasture cattle ranching or agroecological production, among others, are promoted.

The nature production approach is based on four pillars: restorative economies, vibrant communities, the development of national parks or protected areas, and complete ecosystems. It is in this last component that Rewilding stands out as a biological and ecological restoration strategy.

REGENERATION CENTER

Our Regeneration Center is located inside the Cerro Negro Reserve, in the Sierras de Carapé. There we developed a delimited space that can be guarded. The objective in this place is to anchor the purpose of AMBÁ as a nucleus.We seek to transmit and experience the importance of reconnecting people with nature and to carry out regeneration practices in the ecosystems.

In the Cerro Negro Reserve you can find our Regeneration Center, the Sendero de las Nubes, a five-kilometer trail surrounded by native flora and wide views of the sierras, and the Urubú Viewpoint, the first free and open trail in the Sierras de Rocha, a short tour that offers the possibility of rejoicing with a unique panoramic view of the sierras.

ACTIVITIES:

  • Mammal monitoring

  • Feline monitoring

  • Bird monitoring

  • Native forest regeneration

  • Environmental education

OUR TEAM

Maximiliano Costa

Executive Director

Rodrigo Patrón Silva

Carapé Project Director

Inti Carro

Conservation Director

Nara Lescano

Finance Director

Juan Artola

Communications Director

Talía Zamboni

Ecological Restoration Coordinator

Mariana Pirez

Sierras de Rocha Coordinator

Stephan Heit

Carapé Project Territorial Coordinator

Miranda Volpe

Uruguay River Coordinator

Fernando Mayor

Río Uruguay Logístic Coordinator

PARTNERSHIPS

In a context where we are facing the so-called triple planetary crisis: climate change, mass extinction and pollution, we have a great challenge and at the same time a great opportunity: to protect our planet for future generations.
This is only possible by working together: private actors, organizations, government, philanthropy and committed individuals.