ArgentinaEcosystem restoration · Fires
RestaurAcción, an Eco House program launched in 2021 with youth participation, restores degraded areas and forests with native species in eight Argentine provinces, creating biodiversity corridors together with communities, municipalities, schools and companies to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems in the face of climate change. It has already planted more than 13,000 native specimens in more than 60 community restoration events, with more than 8,000 people involved.
RestaurAcción, an Eco House program launched in 2021 with youth participation, restores degraded areas and forests with native species in eight Argentine provinces, creating biodiversity corridors together with communities, municipalities, schools and companies to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems in the face of climate change. It has already planted more than 13,000 native specimens in more than 60 community restoration events, with more than 8,000 people involved.
Argentina faces growing climate threats in a context of weakening environmental policy and budget cuts. 95% of fires are of human origin and their intensity increases with drought, heat and wind. Between 300,000 and 1.15 million hectares were burned per year, affecting native forest and urban-rural interface communities such as Córdoba and Patagonia.
The measure seeks to restore degraded ecosystems and reforest with native species to conserve biodiversity, strengthen regional economies, improve the quality of life of communities, create opportunities for young people and generate socio-environmental indicators that guide long-term climate planning.
Urban forestation and with native species, restoration of degraded natural areas and creation of biodiversity corridors. Training and workshops are provided to schools, companies and municipalities, free access educational content is developed and community planting events are coordinated with reserves and local organizations, with monitoring of the socio-environmental impact through a National Plantation Registry.
Young people, local communities of the provinces where the program operates, schools, educational institutions and municipalities. More than 8,000 people participated in the more than 60 community restoration events held.
Young people participate in community planting and restoration events and receive socio-environmental training. The program is articulated with the Eco House Network of Schools for Sustainable Development to train environmental leaders, and seeks to generate youth leadership opportunities.
The program has more than 13,000 native specimens planted, more than 60 community restoration events and more than 8,000 people involved. Supports reserves and natural areas in 8 provinces. He was recognized as a Youth Leader by the UNDP (2020) and is part of the Generation17 initiative, strengthening regional economies and consolidating alliances with municipalities, companies and local organizations.
Juan Pessini (forestacion@ecohouse.org.ar), Eco House. Web: https://ecohouse.org.ar/restauraccion/
Mixed
In the provinces where the program operates, forest fires (95% of human origin) are intensifying due to droughts and high temperatures linked to climate change. They affect native forest, protected areas and biodiversity, degrading ecosystems that then require restoration and reforestation processes.
Argentina has the Climate Change Law (27,520) and a National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan, within the framework of which RestaurAcción is part. However, since 2023 the environmental area was demoted from ministry to undersecretary, with budget cuts and a shift in firefighting towards a security logic, which limits the state's ability to sustain restoration policies.
RestaurAcción brings together the State, companies through CSR and consulting, individuals and educational institutions, and relies on local organizations and reserves such as El Corredor, San Martín, Bayka and GADE.
The implementation was facilitated by the framework of the National (and Global) Plan for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change, the institutional support of Eco House, the participation of volunteers and coordination with companies. One of the barriers is the lack of sustained financing.
It generates environmental education for schools and communities, strengthens regional economies, creates leadership opportunities for young people, improves the local quality of life of surrounding populations and promotes social cohesion by encouraging community activities and volunteerism.
This program already has scalability considering that it is implemented in 8 provinces. Continuing to scale it would involve more alliances and financing.
Sustainability depends on community appropriation of the project and the diversification of alliances with the State, companies and individuals.
#RestaurAccion: Forestation and Ecological Restoration: https://ecohouse.org.ar/restauraccion/; Forestation and ecological restoration #RestaurAcción 2022: https://restauraccion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RestaurAccion-2022-Restauracion-Ecologica-y-Forestacion-Eco-House-Global.pdf ; Impact report: 7 years of action for sustainability - Eco House Global 2016-2023: https://ecohouse.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Reporte-de-Impacto-7-anos-de-Eco-House-Global.pdf ; Environmental budget in Argentina: the consolidation of an adjustment (FARN): https://farn.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Presupuesto-ambiental-en-Argentina-la-consolidacion-de-un-ajuste.pdf ; In 2021, the areas affected by forest fires were reduced by 70% compared to 2020: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/en-2021-se-redujeron-un-70-las-areas-afectadas-por-incendios-forestales-en-relacion-2020 ; X-ray of the fires: how much area was burned in 2024 and which were the most affected provinces: https://chequeado.com/el-explicador/radiografia-de-los-incendios-cuanta-superficie-se-quemo-en-2024-y-cuales-fueron-las-provincias-mas-afectadas/