Patagonian grasslands Patagonian grasslands The Patagonian grasslands (NT0804) is an ecoregion in the south of Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. The grasslands are home to diverse fauna, including several rare or endemic species of birds. There are few protected areas. The grasslands are threatened by overgrazing by sheep, which supply high-quality merino wool. Efforts are being made to develop sustainable grazing practices to avoid desertification. The Patagonian grasslands extend across eastern Tierra del Fuego in Chile and Argentina from near the southern cone, and cover part of Santa Cruz Province just north of the Strait of Magellan up to the Gallegos
Patagonian grasslands The region holds very diverse fauna. Mammals include Patagonian mara ("Dolichotis patagonum"), southern viscacha ("Lagidium viscacia"), Wolffsohn's viscacha ("Lagidium wolffsohni"), Patagonian weasel ("Lyncodon patagonicus"), Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk ("Conepatus humboldtii"), cougar ("Puma concolor"), Falkland Islands wolf ("Dusicyon australis") and guanaco ("Lama guanicoe"). Threatened species include Patagonian mara ("Dolichotis patagonum"), guanaco, South American gray fox ("Lycalopex griseus") and South American fur seal ("Arctocephalus australis"). Bird include Darwin's rhea ("Rhea pennata"), Patagonian tinamou ("Tinamotis ingoufi"), black-chested buzzard-eagle ("Geranoaetus melanoleucus"), peregrine falcon ("Falco peregrinus"), band-winged nightjar ("Systellura longirostris"), Patagonian mockingbird ("Mimus patagonicus") and Patagonian yellow finch ("Sicalis lebruni"). Endemic birds found north of the