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Chaco Vivo is in one of South America’s most ecologically significant regions – the Gran Chaco. This vast and diverse landscape is the second-largest forest in Latin America, following the Amazon, and stretches across Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The Paraguayan Chaco, a vital component of this biome, is a mosaic of ecosystems, each playing a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and supporting local communities.
Project Chaco Vivo lies in the Paraguayan Chaco and encompasses over 187,000 hectares (over 460,000 acres). Chaco Vivo is protecting some of the last and largest contiguous forests in the Paraguayan Chaco.
The Gran Chaco is the second largest ecosystem in South America – approximately 647,500 km2 (250,000 sq mi) in size. It stretches across Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay, with a third covering northern Paraguay.
The Gran Chaco is a unique ecological region characterized by various landscapes, including dry forests, wetlands, savannas, and scrublands. It is home to over 3,400 plant species, 500 bird species, and hundreds of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Among its inhabitants are iconic species such as the jaguar, the Chacoan peccary, and the giant armadillo. This region is a biodiversity hotspot and a critical area for carbon storage, making its conservation vital in the fight against climate change.
However, the Gran Chaco is under significant threat from human activities. Since 1985, approximately 20% of its forest cover has been lost, primarily due to agricultural expansion, particularly for cattle ranching and soy production. This deforestation has been most severe in Paraguay, where loose regulations and the global demand for beef and soy have led to rapid land conversion. The environmental consequences are severe, leading to habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and changes in the local climate (NASA Earth Observatory, Mongabay).
The Gran Chaco ecosystem is a keystone in global biodiversity and climatic stability. This biome boasts an exceptional diversity of biotic components, including over 3,400 plant species, approximately 150 mammals, in excess of 500 avian species, and around 220 species of herpetofauna. A number of these species are not only rare but also endemic to the region. Furthermore, the Gran Chaco harbors multiple species listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as endangered, threatened, or near-threatened, such as the jaguar, the giant armadillo, the Chacoan peccary, and the Chaco eagle. In addition to its biodiversity significance, the Gran Chaco provides vital ecosystem services, including but not limited to carbon sequestration and hydrological regulation. These services are indispensable for the welfare of local communities and the global populace at large.
The Paraguayan Chaco is crucial not only for its biodiversity but also for the environmental services it provides. These ecosystems are vital in water regulation, supporting large wetland areas critical for local wildlife and human populations. The Chaco also acts as a carbon sink, helping mitigate climate change’s impacts by storing vast amounts of carbon in its forests and soils.
Additionally, the region supports unique Indigenous and rural communities that have lived harmoniously with the land for centuries. Their traditional knowledge and practices are integral to the sustainable management of these ecosystems. However, the pressures of deforestation and climate change threaten their way of life and the delicate balance of the Chaco’s ecosystems (The Nature Conservancy).
Deforestation in the Chaco is driven by several factors, including the expansion of agriculture, particularly soy cultivation and cattle ranching. Technological advancements have enabled farming in areas previously unsuitable due to low rainfall, further accelerating deforestation. In Paraguay, deforestation is among the highest in the world, with significant portions of the Chaco being cleared each year.
The loss of forest cover has far-reaching consequences. As the forests are cleared, the species that depend on them for habitat are pushed to extinction. The fragmentation of these ecosystems also disrupts the natural processes that regulate climate and water cycles, leading to more frequent and severe floods and droughts. Furthermore, deforestation in the Chaco contributes to global climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.
These ramifications extend beyond regional boundaries, substantially impacting the global climatic system. Estimates indicate that between 2000 and 2022, the Paraguayan Chaco region experienced a forest area destruction of approximately 16.5 million hectares. This loss is not trivial; it corresponds to over 350 million tons of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere over this period. Such voluminous carbon emissions have pronounced implications for global climate dynamics.
Deforestation in the Chaco is driven by several factors, including the expansion of agriculture, particularly soy cultivation and cattle ranching. Technological advancements have enabled farming in areas previously unsuitable due to low rainfall, further accelerating deforestation. In Paraguay, deforestation is among the highest in the world, with significant portions of the Chaco being cleared each year.
The loss of forest cover has far-reaching consequences. As the forests are cleared, the species that depend on them for habitat are pushed to extinction. The fragmentation of these ecosystems also disrupts the natural processes that regulate climate and water cycles, leading to more frequent and severe floods and droughts. Furthermore, deforestation in the Chaco contributes to global climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.
These ramifications extend beyond regional boundaries, substantially impacting the global climatic system. Estimates indicate that between 2001 to 2023, Paraguay lost 6.96 Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a 29% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and released over 1.84 Gt of CO2e of emissions released into the atmosphere over this period. Such voluminous carbon emissions have pronounced implications for global climate dynamics.
The top 2 regions were responsible for 66% of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2022.
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