Asunción, Agencia IP.- Asunción hosted the opening of the 15th South American Bird Fair on Thursday, the continent’s leading gathering dedicated to birdwatching tourism and nature conservation. The event will take place through Sunday, September 20, at the Centro Cultural del Puerto of Asunción.
A regional gathering in Paraguay
The fair brings together specialists, birdwatchers, photographers, researchers and enthusiasts from countries across South America and other regions. Its program includes networking and knowledge-sharing activities, training sessions, birdwatching outings and initiatives aimed at promoting Paraguay’s natural wealth.
This marks the first time Paraguay has hosted the event, which seeks to strengthen cooperation among professionals and organizations working in conservation, tourism and birdwatching, while promoting the country as a nature-based tourism destination.
Authorities highlight Paraguay’s potential for birdwatching tourism
During the official opening ceremony, Javier Ramírez, interim Executive Secretary of the National Tourism Secretariat (Senatur), highlighted the importance of Paraguay hosting this international gathering and emphasized the country’s exceptional natural diversity.
“Our territory is home to more than 700 bird species, while Asunción and its metropolitan area alone are home to approximately 360 species, an extraordinary diversity for a capital city,” Ramírez stated. He added that Paraguay’s greatest strength lies in the diversity of its landscapes and ecosystems.
This wealth of natural environments, he noted, makes birdwatching an opportunity to diversify the country’s tourism offering and develop new experiences for both domestic and international visitors.
Opening program features culture, philately and music
The opening ceremony featured remarks by Adriana Ortiz, Executive Secretary of the National Secretariat of Culture; Fernando Beconi, President of the Nature Observers Club and representative of the Local Organizing Committee; and Horacio Matarasso, President of the South American Bird Fair.
As part of the ceremony, the Postal Issue “15th South American Bird Fair – Asunción, Paraguay 2026” was presented. Issued by the National Directorate of Paraguayan Post (Dinacopa), the commemorative stamps mark the event’s first edition in Paraguay. Authorities unveiled the design and carried out the traditional cancellation ceremony.
The event was also attended by Alberto Sborovsky, Vice Minister of Trade and Services of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC); Diana Centurión, Tourism Advisor at Itaipú; Marlene Ríos, Philatelic Advisor at Dinacopa; and other authorities.
The opening ceremony concluded with a concert by the Asunción City Symphony Orchestra, marking the beginning of an agenda featuring knowledge-sharing, training, birdwatching, and activities promoting Paraguay’s and South America’s natural heritage.
Asunción as an urban birdwatching destination
Within the framework of the fair, Asunción is being showcased as a destination with significant potential for urban birdwatching tourism. Its parks, green spaces, streams, wetlands and natural areas in and around the city provide opportunities to observe numerous bird species in an urban environment, highlighting the role of nature and wildlife among the capital’s attractions.
Local media have highlighted that Paraguay is home to approximately 700 bird species across its territory, with more than 300 recorded in Asunción alone. This biodiversity offers opportunities to develop tourism experiences centered on birdwatching.
International projection
Hosting the fair provides an opportunity to promote Paraguay internationally as a nature tourism destination, while fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange among those working in conservation, tourism, and birdwatching throughout the region.
The National Tourism Secretariat is supporting this edition, expecting the gathering to leave a lasting impact and reinforce the message that “protecting their wings means caring for our own horizon.”
