An article in Nature reveals that Chaco promoted illegal deforestation of native forests for 15 years

A scientific study published this week in Nature has revealed that the province of Chaco systematically promoted illegal deforestation of native forests over a period of 15 years through administrative strategies that undermined environmental protections. The research, based on geographic analysis and official data obtained via public information requests, uncovered six administrative tactics used by local governments to facilitate deforestation while reducing the protection of native forest areas. These actions were aimed at supporting agricultural, livestock, and timber-related industries. The investigation was conducted by biologists Matías Mastrangelo and Sebastián Aguiar from CONICET, along with environmental scientist Vera Krause from the Julius Kühn-Institute in Germany. According to their findings, between 2009 and 2024, administrations led by three different governors from the Justicialist Party (PJ), Jorge Capitanich, Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff, and Domingo Peppo, as well as one from the United Civic Coalition (UCR), Leandro Zdero, implemented policies that effectively allowed large-scale deforestation. These measures included altering the classification of protected forest zones to enable economic activities, often under the guise of legal procedures. The Gran Chaco, which spans parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, is the world’s largest dry forest ecosystem. Between 1985 and 2020, nearly 30% of this region was lost, with the majority of the destruction occurring in Argentina. Specifically, more than 10.3 million hectares were cleared, an area roughly equivalent to the size of the province of Santa Fe. This loss has had profound ecological consequences, contributing to biodiversity decline and disrupting regional climate patterns. One of the key mechanisms identified by the researchers was the recategorization of protected forest zones. Under the law governing native forests, provinces must classify land into three categories, red (protected), yellow (low-impact activity permitted), and green (modifications allowed with authorization). These classifications are meant to ensure conservation and sustainable use. However, the study found that authorities in Chaco systematically changed these designations to allow deforestation. In 2012, following pressure from 60 major landowners, officials downgraded several protected areas from yellow to green, enabling extensive logging and land clearing. Between 2013 and 2018, these properties saw the removal of approximately 34,300 hectares of forest. While such changes could theoretically be justified in exceptional cases, the researchers argue that the process became routine. Both the Law on Native Forests and the General Environmental Law include the principle of “non-regression,” which prohibits lowering the level of protection for previously safeguarded areas. Despite this, the study shows that these rules were consistently ignored. In 2019, the Provincial Human Rights Defender’s Office filed an injunction and precautionary measure to block a request to change the zoning status of 53 properties, most located in the department of Almirante Brown. This action highlighted the growing legal challenges facing efforts to protect the remaining forest areas. The study also points to broader implications beyond environmental degradation. A previous study from the University of Buenos Aires identified three economic risks linked to deforestation: reduced productivity due to the loss of ecosystem services, diminished market access due to stricter sustainability requirements, and financial risks stemming from international credit institutions demanding environmentally responsible production practices. These factors underscore the complex interplay between environmental policy and economic interests in the region.