The Gran Chaco Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 2025

–MapBiomas Chaco: This collaborative initiative spans Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, aiming to produce annual land-use maps to support data-driven decision-making and track changes across the Gran Chaco.74 Implementing national policies to reduce deforestation is essential Enhancing national policies and strategies and addressing enforcement challenges are key to reducing deforestation, carbon emissions and biodiversity loss across the Gran Chaco. At the national level, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay have implemented critical policies to reduce deforestation, conserve biodiversity and combat climate change. These initiatives align with international frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement and emphasize integrating conservation with sustainable development. Table 5 highlights key climate-related policies, biodiversity efforts and government initiatives across the three countries. National policies and initiatives for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay TABLE 5 Initiatives Argentina Bolivia Paraguay REDD+ starting year for project and funding awarded 75,76,77,782020 ($80 million) 2010 ($4 million) 2021 ($50 million) National climate change policies Law No. 27,520 (2019): Establishes national climate goals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and adaptation. Law No. 1500 (2023): Approval of the Credit Agreement CBO 1037 02 L for the Program to Support Sustainable Economic Recovery and Climate Change Resilience in Bolivia, signed between the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the French Development Agency.79 Law No. 3001 (2006): Establishes compensation for environmental services to protect biodiversity. Resolution of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development No. 81/19: Permits deforestation in the eastern region, provided it is offset in the Chaco (western region) by certifying a conserved area that exceeds the 25% conservation requirement established by forestry law. In this way, the conserved area can be traded in the market. Law No. 7190 (2023): Promotes carbon credit trading for forest protection. Biodiversity protected areas~0.5% of the Gran Chaco is under protection.80 Only two national parks have been created since 2005: Impenetrable National Park and El Palmar Lagoon National Park, both in Chaco Province.~25% of the Gran Chaco is under protection. The most recent protected area created was the Conservation and Ecological Importance Area of Ñembi Guasu in 2022.~7% of Gran Chaco is under protection. The last national park established was Estero Milagro National Park in 2004. Government initiatives Forests Law (No. 26,331): Promotes the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of native forests through a system of land-use zoning. Provinces are mandated to map and classify their forests into three categories: strict conservation (red), sustainable management (yellow) and areas permitting forest transformation (green), subject to provincial authorization. Financed by a dedicated Forest Fund. Law No. 300 (‘Mother Earth’ Law): Sustainable resource management based on Indigenous values. Law No. 337: Legalizes specific clearings and supports reforestation. Law No. 1333: Regulates the protection of natural resources, while the Forest and Land Authority (ABT) grants permits for controlled burns. Forest Law (No. 422/73): Mandates a minimum protection of 25% for properties in the Chaco region. However, complementary regulations, including afforestation and water management laws, contribute to increasing conservation levels beyond this baseline. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Argentina (2021) has committed not to exceed net emissions of 349 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2030.Bolivia’s updated NDC (2022) includes mitigation and adaptation goals for non-greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on water, energy, forests and agriculture. However, it does not include a specific GHG emissions reduction target. Paraguay’s NDC (2021) does not specify an absolute emissions reduction target but proposes a 10% reduction in its net emissions. The Gran Chaco: Pathways Towards a Sustainable Future 35