The Gran Chaco Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 2025

Government efforts to promote sustainability in the Gran Chaco operate across international, regional, national and subnational levels. International agreements such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have established key frameworks for conservation targets and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Tri-national agendas have also been explored but have yielded limited practical outcomes.68,69 Regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the UK Forest Risk Commodity Regulation introduce new compliance challenges for export-orientated sectors in the Gran Chaco. However, instead of being perceived as externally imposed constraints, these regulations can serve as catalysts for innovation and market access, provided that implementation strategies are designed in coordination with local producers, businesses and policy-makers. Ensuring regulatory alignment requires investments in traceability systems and capacity building, reinforcing both international trade viability and local development priorities. Additionally, complementary measures should accompany these regulations to support producing countries in overcoming implementation barriers, fostering investment in sustainable production and strengthening the long- term resilience of local economies. European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) BOX 13 The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)70 aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss by ensuring that products entering the EU market are free from deforestation and forest degradation. The EUDR is part of the EU’s broader strategy to protect and restore global forests, as outlined in the Communication (2019) on stepping up EU action to protect and restore the world’s forests.71 The EUDR imposes strict due diligence requirements on European buyers and importers, placing the responsibility on operators and traders to verify that commodities placed on or exported from the EU market comply with stringent environmental and social standards, including local legal frameworks and Indigenous rights. Key EUDR requirements: Deforestation-free products: Commodities must not originate from deforested land or contribute to forest degradation, including primary forests, after 31 December 2020.Respect for human rights: Production processes must adhere to human rights and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples.Regulated commodities: The regulation applies to livestock, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, timber, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. In December 2024 the European Union granted a 12-month additional phasing-in period, making the law applicable on 30 December 2025 for large and medium companies and 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises. Regional initiatives can encourage collaboration on sustainability Regional initiatives are critical to advancing sustainability in the Gran Chaco, leveraging institutional frameworks that foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Regional initiatives that seek to integrate civil society, governments and NGOs to strengthen governance and effectively implement conservation strategies are crucial for bridging the diverse perspectives and visions surrounding the Gran Chaco. These efforts are key to locally advancing an integrated vision of sustainable development for the biome. The Gran Chaco already benefits from successful examples of such initiatives, which should be promoted and scaled-up to expand their reach and amplify their positive impacts: –Redes Chaco: Established in 2008, this platform unites NGOs, community-based organizations, companies and public agencies to promote collective actions for equitable and sustainable governance. –ProYungas Foundation’s biodiversity corridors and productive-protected landscapes: The ProYungas Foundation leads two key initiatives that balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable land use in Argentina. Through biodiversity corridors and productive-protected landscapes, the foundation works in partnership with NGOs, government agencies and Argentina’s National Parks Administration72 to address habitat fragmentation73 and promote ecological connectivity. The Gran Chaco: Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 34