The Gran Chaco Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 2025

4Unlocking Gran Chaco’s potential: pathways for sustainable development Solutions include stronger enforcement of existing laws against deforestation, regional initiatives to align with international regulation and leveraging private sector resources to incentivize sustainable practices. The development of the Gran Chaco is shaped by a diverse array of stakeholders who hold decision-making power or exert significant influence over its economic model. These stakeholders include small-, medium- and large- scale producers; corporate actors, including soy traders, beef-packers and cooperatives for soy and beef; local and foreign investors and financial institutions; Indigenous and peasant communities; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); subnational and national governments; and international organizations – such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Over time, this diversity of actors and interests within the biome has led to the emergence of differing visions for the Gran Chaco’s future, reflecting historical development and settlement patterns. These divergent perspectives often result in tensions and conflicts, but they also present opportunities to shape sustainable solutions. Four possible approaches have been identified (see Box 12): Production with minimal protection (business-as-usual)Sustainable developmentCommunity managementStrict conservation The Gran Chaco: Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 32