Patagonian grasslands ("Podiceps gallardoi"), the rare ruddy-headed goose ("Chloephaga rubidiceps") and the near threatened striated caracara ("Phalcoboenus australis"), which has suffered from over-hunting. The ecoregion has few protected areas. They include Dicky Private Wildlife Reserve ("Refugio Privado de Vida Silvestre Dicky") and Magallanes National Reserve on the mainland, and Reserva Costa Atlántica in Tierra del Fuego. The Patagonian Grasslands of Argentina Conservation Project, organized by The Nature Conservancy, is trying to develop sustainable grazing practices in partnership with scientists and landowners, but it is a challenge to find economic incentives. An Argentine company has worked with The Nature Conservancy to develop protocols
Patagonian Desert contributing to the gravel sediments covering parts of the Patagonian. The desert is quite windy as well, a result of the rain shadow effect and descending cool mountain air. This wind helps make the Patagonian one of the largest sources of dust over the South Atlantic Ocean. On the west the Patagonian grasslands portion of the Patagonian Desert are bounded by nothofagus forests of the Magellanic subpolar forests. Volcanic rocks covers more than 120,000 km of the Patagonian Desert, mainly in the "Somun Cura Massif" (i.e. North Patagonian Massif) and the "Deseado Massif". Some other volcanic areas include the Pali-Aike