Argentina’s Gran Chaco Faces Catastrophic Deforestation Despite Legal Protections
The Regions of South America's LostForest are disappearing at an alarming rate. The Gran Chaco, Argentina's deforestation hotspot, is under threat from illegal logging and agricultural expansion. Despite legal protections, the regions bank of biodiversity and local livelihoods is under threat. Spanning over 100 million hectares, the Gran Chaco is one of the continent's most biodiverse ecosystems. Yet between 1998 and 2021, Argentina lost nearly 7 million hectares of native forest—mostly in this regions bank—due to soy farming, cattle ranching, and the timber industry. Weak regulations and government policies favouring agriculture have sped up the destruction, with a so-called 'deforestation mafia' operating with little consequence. In 2007, Argentina introduced a forest protection law, but enforcement remains weak. Environmental lawyer Enrique Viale filed a criminal complaint in 2024 against politicians, officials, and business leaders in Chaco Province for removing protected status from forest areas. Meanwhile, deforestation has driven up greenhouse gas emissions, with land-use changes accounting for 45% of the country’s total emissions by 2020—up from 39% just two years earlier. Not all hope is lost. Since 2014, 128,000 hectares of the Gran Chaco have been preserved as El Impenetrable National Park. Conservation group Rewilding Argentina is also working to reintroduce extinct species like the yaguareté (American jaguar) to restore ecological balance. For farmers like Jorge Luna, ecotourism now offers a lifeline. Struggling with drought and poor soil, he earns more from kayak rentals and camping than he ever would from logging. The Gran Chaco’s survival depends on stronger enforcement of environmental laws and sustainable alternatives for local communities. While conservation efforts and ecotourism show promise, illegal deforestation continues to outpace protections. Without urgent action, the region’s forests—and the people who rely on them—face an uncertain future.
