Fundacion Lagunas Costeras

Fundacion Lagunas Costeras, doing business as Fundación Lagunas Costeras, is a non-profit organization based in Uruguay that focuses on conservation efforts for coastal lagoons and grassland shorebirds. Registered with SAM.gov since June 2019, the foundation has been actively engaged in federal grant programs, particularly those administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fundación Lagunas Costeras specializes in developing and implementing best management practices (BMPs) for grazing that aim to improve habitat for threatened grassland shorebirds while simultaneously meeting the production objectives of local ranchers. Their work primarily centers on key wintering areas for shorebirds in eastern Uruguay, including Merin Lagoon, Castillos Lagoon, and Rocha Lagoon.

The foundation has received multiple project grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance program (CFDA 15.664). These grants support initiatives such as gathering detailed information on ranch management practices, redesigning grazing strategies, and monitoring variables like cattle movements and shorebird habitats. A recent $197,934 grant awarded in May 2024 focuses on engaging 10 ranchers to develop and implement grazing BMPs that consider diverse socioeconomic and environmental factors. Previous grants have supported similar efforts, including a project to empower ranchers to conserve shorebirds through BMPs (awarded in June 2022) and an integrative management project for coastal lagoons in Uruguay aimed at migrant shorebird conservation (awarded in September 2020). These projects typically span two to three years and involve collaboration with local ranchers, data collection, workshops, and the development of protocols for applying conservation-friendly grazing practices across various ranch types.