A massive 'Guapoy' tree located in Ñacunday National Park in Alto Paraná, eastern Paraguay, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 "Giants of the Earth" (Colosos de la Tierra) environmental campaign. This prestigious selection is an opportunity to widely promote the ecological and cultural value of the Ñacunday forest.

The campaign is organized by the non-profit environmental organization A Todo Pulmón Paraguay Respira and aims to highlight the importance of protecting Paraguay's most emblematic trees. The Guapoy tree, which was chosen as a finalist, is a species characteristic of the highly conserved Atlantic Forest of Alto Paraná (BAAPA) and was discovered in the Torocuai area in the southern part of the national park.

According to Osvaldo Godoy, the head ranger of Ñacunday National Park, the Guapoy tree was discovered by chance during a routine patrol of the park's surroundings. Its enormous girth and lush foliage immediately caught their attention. "I'm very happy that this giant tree has been selected as a finalist," said Ranger Godoy, adding, "This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of the Ñacunday forest."

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the park rangers, Ñacunday National Park boasts a rich ecosystem. Spanning 2,003 hectares, the park is centered around the magnificent Ñacunday Waterfall, which stands 45 meters high and is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. The park features dense forests of valuable native trees like Ibirapitá, Curupay, and cedar. It is also inhabited by various mammals, including deer, wild boars, and capybaras (a rodent native to South America), as well as numerous bird species such as the rare potoo, toucans, and the bellbird (Paraguay's national bird). The potoo, in particular, which nests on the waterfall's cliffs, is a highly protected endangered species.

The selection of the Guapoy tree as a finalist is not just a tribute to a single tree; it holds significant meaning in recognizing the overall ecological value of Ñacunday National Park. It also highlights the importance of efforts to protect biodiversity through the ecological corridor that runs along the border between Paraguay and Argentina. This serves to deliver an even more powerful message about the necessity of preserving natural heritage and the importance of forests for future generations.

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