Biodiversity

Protecting Nature’s Masterpiece

Healthy communities are strong communities. Chaco Vivo is improving access to essential health services, clean water, and sanitation for the communities within our project area. Our initiatives include building new health clinics, providing vaccinations, and promoting nutritional programs that combat malnutrition and disease.

Project Chaco Vivo

A Haven for Wildlife

The Gran Chaco is a critical habitat for countless species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Chaco Vivo safeguards over 187,916 hectares of this vital ecosystem, ensuring species such as the Chacoan peccary, crowned solitary eagle, and endangered Palo Santo tree continue to thrive. These efforts protect individual species and maintain the intricate web of life that supports them all.

Important Biodiversity of the Gran Chaco Ecosystem

Flora

The Gran Chaco has highly diverse vegetation, including dry thorn forests, cactus stands, and palm savannas.The area is however mostly dominated by of vast, low hardwood forests where various species of ‘quebracho’ trees are dominant.

dry arid and semi-arid forest
0 %
palm tree-covered savannas
0 %
species of plants
0

Fauna

The Gran Chaco boasts a remarkable faunal diversity, with a variety of animals commonly associated with tropical and subtropical forests being present in the eastern Humid Chaco region. Among these animals are jaguars, howler monkeys, peccaries, deer, and tapirs.

species of birds
0
species of mammals
0
species of reptiles and amphibians
0

Critical Biodiversity Corridors

The Paraguayan Chaco ecosystem is a critical habitat for an extraordinary array of life, including numerous species listed on the IUCN Red List as endangered, threatened, or near-threatened. Iconic species such as the jaguar, giant armadillo, Chacoan peccary, and Chaco eagle depend on the Gran Chaco for survival. These species and many others rely on the region’s unique and interconnected habitats to thrive. Without protection, these habitats face degradation that could irreversibly harm global biodiversity integrity.

Chaco Vivo is vital in safeguarding these critical habitats and the biodiversity corridors that connect them. These corridors are essential for the survival of both resident and migratory species, allowing wildlife to move freely, access resources, and maintain healthy populations. They are particularly crucial for migratory bird patterns, which span continents and support ecosystems far beyond the Chaco. If these connections are lost, the resulting erosion of biodiversity integrity will have cascading effects on ecological resilience, genetic diversity, and ecosystem services.

By protecting these critical habitats and corridors, Chaco Vivo ensures that this globally significant ecosystem remains a sanctuary for endangered species and a lifeline for biodiversity. Our efforts are preserving the Chaco’s ecological balance and reinforcing its role as a keystone in global conservation efforts.

Protect numerous IUCN Red List species

The Gran Chaco is home to several species on the brink of extinction. Chaco Vivo is at the forefront of conservation efforts, implementing strategies to protect these endangered species and their habitats. Through rigorous monitoring and research, we are working to ensure that species like the jaguar, marsh seedeater, and the Chaco side-necked turtle have a fighting chance.

The following illustrates endangered, near threatened, and trigger species within the Chaco Vivo Project Area.
Previous slide
Next slide

Jaguar (Panthera Onca)

IUCN Near Threatened, Critically Endangered in Paraguay & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

Vulnerable & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

IUCN Near Threatened, Endangered in Paraguay

Previous slide
Next slide

Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

Vulnerable & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri)

Endangered & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus)

Vulnerable & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Chaco Side-necked Turtle (Acanthochelys pallidipectoris)

Endangered

Previous slide
Next slide

White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari)

Vulnerable & Trigger Species

Previous slide
Next slide

Crowned Solitary eagle (Buteogallus coronatus)

Endangered

Previous slide
Next slide

Marsh Seedeater (Sporophila palustris)

Endangered

Previous slide
Next slide

Palo Santo (Gonopterodendron sarmientoi)

Endangered

Previous slide
Next slide

Restoring Ecosystems

Biodiversity thrives in healthy ecosystems. Chaco Vivo is protecting the existing forest and will actively restore degraded areas. Our reforestation efforts involve planting native tree species, restoring wetlands, and improving soil health to create a robust environment where biodiversity can flourish.

Monitoring and Research

Understanding biodiversity is vital to its protection. At Chaco Vivo, we employ advanced technologies like satellite imagery, drones, and blockchain to monitor biodiversity and track changes in the ecosystem. Our partnership with universities and research institutions ensures that our conservation strategies are based on the latest scientific knowledge and best practices.

For more detailed information about Project Chaco Vivo, sign up for the Chaco Vivo Extranet site

Previous slide
Next slide

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge

The Indigenous communities of the Gran Chaco have lived in harmony with nature for generations, possessing deep knowledge of the land and its ecosystems. Chaco Vivo collaborates closely with these communities, integrating traditional ecological knowledge into our conservation strategies. This partnership not only enhances our efforts but also ensures that the cultural heritage of these communities is respected and preserved.

A Legacy of Conservation

Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth, and Chaco Vivo is committed to leaving a legacy of conservation that will endure for generations. By protecting the Gran Chaco’s incredible biodiversity, we are safeguarding species and ensuring that the ecosystems they inhabit continue to provide essential services, such as clean air, water, and a stable climate.