We present an assessment of the Southern Paraguayan Grasslands using Important Bird Areas (IBAs) located in a grassland landscape mosaic. Eleven IBAs in southern Paraguay were evaluated 10 years after their designation, using the BirdLife International method to assess the state, pressure, and response of these areas, during 2017 and 2018. Overall, the Pressure from ecosystem modifications led by fire, and fire suppression, agricultural expansion, and intensification due to farming and grazing have been identified as the major threats to IBAs. Regarding the State, 64% of the IBAs presented Very poor habitat quality to support grassland bird communities. The level of conservation Response was mostly negligible when considering conservation designation, management planning and conservation actions for the trigger species. Our results provide useful information to partners to reconsider these areas as IBAs as most of them no longer fulfill international requirements, we also highlight the importance of strengthening national policies to adequately protect natural grasslands.

We provide new information on all birds known from San Rafael National Park, Paraguay. Ornithological records from the period 1997 to 2006 have been reviewed, adding 112 new species to the reserve's avifauna. We provide data on the presence of 405 species in seven basic habitats types, and on their relative abundance. Biogeographically, San Rafael has a mixed avifauna, consisting of 70 Atlantic Forest endemic species, two Mesopotamian Grassland endemics, and many with a wider distribution in South America. At least 12 species are threatened and 16 near-threatened, including important populations of Dryocopus galeatus, Platyrinchus leucoryphus, Alectrurus tricolor and Xanthopsar flavus. We provide brief comments on records of these 28 species within the study site. The avifauna of the reserve is one the most important in Paraguay, due to its high diversity and endemism. At the same time, it is under great threat and its viability is at risk unless urgent actions are taken. Fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest in Paraguay has left the San Rafael block almost totally isolated from other forests. The degradation of its forests through selective logging and clearance for agriculture still has severe impacts, as do hunting and frequent fires in grasslands and forests. Unfortunately, the legal situation of the National Park is extremely precarious, creating great uncertainty and problems for its conservation.

Aqui relatamos nuevas informaciones sobre todas las aves conocidas hasta el presente dentro del Parque Nacional San Rafael. Se han revisado registros ornitológicos comprendidos entre los aãos 1997 y 2006, que han permitido aãadir 112 especies nuevas para la reserva. De esta manera, San Rafael tiene un total de 405 especies registradas. Para cada una de ellas se facilitan datos que documentan su presencia en siete tipos de hábitats básicos diferenciados, y de su abundancia relativa. Biogeográficamente, la avifauna de San Rafael es una mezcla que está compuesta por 70 especies endémicas del Bosque Atlántico, dos endémicas de los Pastizales de la Mesopotamia, y el resto, son de distribución más amplia en Sudamérica. Al menos, 12 especies están amenazadas y 16 casi-amenazadas, incluyendo poblaciones importantes de Dryocopus galeatus, Platyrinchus leucoryphus, Alectrurus tricolor y Xanthopsar flavus. De éstas 28 especies, se proporcionan comentarios breves sobre sus registros en el área de estudio. La avifauna de la reserva resulta una de las más importantes dentro del Paraguay, tanto por su mayor diversidad y presencia de endemismos, como por ser una de las áreas con alto potencial para mantener la biodiversidad, al tiempo que se encuentra sometida a fuertes amenazas que ponen en peligro su viabilidad en caso de no tomarse medidas urgentes. La alta fragmentación del Bosque Atlántico dentro del Paraguay, ha dejado al bloque de San Rafael prácticamente aislado de otros bosques. La degradación de sus bosques por tala selectiva y desmonte para agricultura son aún grandes impactos dentro de sus límites, así como la caza furtiva y la quema frecuente inducida de pastizales y bosques. Desafortunadamente, la situación legal del Parque Nacional es extremadamente precaria, generando así gran incertidumbre y dificultad para su conservación.