WCS Argentina began designing this website in 2019 with the intention of raising awareness about the protected coastal and marine areas of Argentina and creating a long-term collaborative space where representatives from government institutions, managers, wildlife rangers and park rangers, NGOs, naturalists, and experts can contribute knowledge and information about the significance of these areas and the importance of their effective management. The website is an informative and dynamic space, constantly being updated, reviewed, and enriched. We hope it serves as a valuable resource for all those working to conserve our coastal and marine ecosystems and their species, as well as for ongoing governmental initiatives, such as Pampa Azul, the Sistema Federal de Áreas Protegidas (SIFAP), and the Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad (SIB) of the Administración de Parques Nacionales.

The goal is for updated information about the protected coastal and marine areas of Argentina to be available to government decision-makers, field staff, researchers, educators, and the interested public, as a contribution to the effective management and enhancement of these biodiversity conservation areas.

The site was designed so that users with different levels of knowledge about coastal and marine protected areas can easily find information of interest.

A person interested in exploring the topic for the first time may find the main (interactive) map, located in the ‘Home’ Section, to be of interest. There, the bright points indicate the location of protected areas, and on the left-hand side, a dropdown menu provides the map’s references. By zooming in on the areas, the user can view their names, boundaries, and type of surface (terrestrial and/or marine).

This map can be used either to access the data sheets for the protected areas or to view a summary table of information about each area. One option is to navigate the map by zooming in or out of the area of interest using the ‘+’ (zoom in) and ‘–’ (zoom out) buttons located in the upper left corner, or by using the mouse scroll wheel. A search can also be performed using the magnifying glass icon located at the top right corner: by entering the full or partial name of a protected area, selecting it from the dropdown list, and pressing ‘Enter’, the map will automatically move to the selected location. By clicking on a protected area, a summary table will appear on the left-hand side of the map with key details and a link to the area’s technical data sheet.

To return the map to its original view, the user can click the first button on the left-hand side (‘Default map view’).

On the right-hand side of the map, several tools are available:

• The first button (‘Measure’) allows users to measure distances between two or more points; calculate the area and perimeter of a polygon; and retrieve the coordinates of a specific point. In all three cases, the preferred unit of measurement can be selected from a predefined list. The ‘Clear’ option resets all measurements and restores the map to its original state.

• The second button (‘Search’) is used to search for protected areas by name (as explained above).

• The third button (‘Share’) allows users to share the map on various social media platforms.

• The fourth button (‘Export to’) enables users to export an image of the map in PDF, JPG, or PNG format, according to their preferences. One option is to export an image of a specific section of the map. Users can either export the entire visible map area or define a custom area using the ‘Set map area’ option. They can also choose whether or not to include the map legend (‘Include legend’ option). Another option is to export an image of a protected area along with its summary table. To do this, first select the desired protected area (see instructions above), then click on the ‘Export to’ button. From there, users can select the map size, choose to include or exclude the legend, and decide whether to include the summary table of the area (‘Include selected features’ option). Before exporting, a preview of the file can be generated (‘Preview’ option). Finally, the user can name the file (‘Title’) and click ‘Export’ to download it.

Readers seeking specific information about a protected area can visit the “Protected Areas” section, browse through the grid, and access the MPA technical sheets. The filters located on the left side of the screen help streamline the search process.

Another way to access the technical data sheets of the MPAs is by using the search tools—one located below the site map in the ‘Home’ section, and another positioned in the top right corner of the website (magnifying glass icon).

These technical sheets currently contain varying amounts of information, including, among other aspects, a description of the site, its creation objectives, conservation values and challenges, and management characteristics. Information relevant to visitors is also included, such as details on access, tourist services, and permitted activities. The content is complemented by maps and images to enhance the appreciation and understanding of the area.

The information presented has been compiled from official documents, such as regulations, government agency databases, and management plans, among others. It will also be gradually reviewed by experts from each MPA to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date content. Their expertise contributes to enriching the sheets, sometimes offering unpublished data. For MPAs that do not yet have a Management Plan, much of the information comes from the collaboration of professionals involved in the area. The authorship of this review (when applicable), along with the date of the last update and the bibliography used, can be found at the end of each page.

This section provides a summary of information regarding the quantity and percentage of coverage of coastal and marine protected areas, based on calculations derived from the cartographic data in the database. It is important to emphasize that the utmost care has been taken in estimating the surface area of the protected areas, using the best available data, whether from polygons provided by official entities or by creating polygons based on the boundaries defined in the legislation that established the areas, while employing the recommended cartographic projection to ensure the accuracy of the area and its surface calculations.

This section presents information on a set of notable species that inhabit or visit the coast and the Argentine Sea. A technical sheet is provided for each species. The information, organized by the year of the most recent update, summarizes the species’ conservation status according to IUCN criteria at the global, regional, and national levels, the population size and trend, the number of colonies or sites used by the species in Argentina, how many of these sites are within protected areas, and how many exhibit an increasing, decreasing, stable, or unknown population trend. It also lists the protected areas with colonies, stopover sites, or areas of intensive presence or use by the species.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the following experts for their invaluable contributions to the content of this site. By dedicating their time and sharing their valuable knowledge, they have played a crucial role in enriching this project. Their generosity in providing information—often unpublished or hard to access—has been essential to its development.

We thank the organizations, researchers, naturalists, and professional photographers who kindly provided their valuable photographic material to illustrate this site. The use of their images requires prior authorization.

The information can be freely consulted and quoted, mentioning the source.

The suggested text for the technical sheets of each MPA is as follows:

WCS Argentina (Year accessed). [Name of the MPA] in Coastal and Marine Protected Areas of Argentina. https://ampargentina.org Review: [Name(s) of the reviewer(s) of the sheet, when applicable].

The tables and data from the Colonies section must be cited as described below:

Fermepin S., Falabella V., Krapovickas S. and G. Harris. 2025. Compilation of demographic data of some emblematic species present in the MPAs of the Argentine coast. Wildlife Conservation Society. https://ampargentina.org/en/colonies/ February 2025 version.

For maps, the suggested citation is as follows:

WCS Argentina (Year accessed). Map [Name of the MPA] in Coastal and Marine Protected Areas of Argentina. https://ampargentina.org Cartography: Valeria Falabella and María Cecilia Palacio.

For the use of the images and photographs on the website for any purpose, authorization must be requested from their authors.

The development, updating and maintenance of this site is possible thanks to the support of the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation to the project “Conservation of coastal marine biodiversity in Atlantic Patagonia” of WCS Argentina.

WCS Argentina thanks Patagonia Natural Foundation, Ricardo Delfino Schenke, and those who were part of the technical team of the project ‘Integrated System of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas’ (ARG / 10 / G47 GEF – UNDP) for promoting the effective management of these spaces and gathering valuable information, which serves as the foundation and inspiration for this site.

WCS Argentina (pgonzalez@wcs.org)