This week a campaign was launched to protect biodiversity in Formosa. Hand in hand with District 22 of National Highways, the National University of Formosa (UNaF), and the provincial administration of National Parks.
Informative signage was installed on different national routes throughout the province.
Campaign to protect biodiversity in Formosa
During the past weekend, preventive signs were placed on national routes 11, 81, and 86, with the aim of raising awareness among drivers about the risk of running over wild animals.
Particularly during peak wildlife transit hours such as afternoon, night, and dawn.
“These are small collaborative actions to raise awareness among drivers and prevent further accidents involving our animals on the roads, mainly,” explained the head of the Ecology and Biodiversity Center of the Argentine Chaco, and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Cecilia Juárez.
“Promoting responsibility in traffic with suitable speed during peak hours when animals move or cross the roads, which generally happens in the evening, at night, or at dawn,” she elaborated in a dialogue with local media.
In this context, it was emphasized that it is crucial to promote road responsibility, especially by respecting speed limits in areas where fauna frequently transit.
In that sense, the new signage focuses on two emblematic and threatened species in the region: the jaguar and the maned wolf.
Juárez stated that although there have been no jaguar accidents in Formosa, they do occur in other provinces with specimens of “maned wolf, anteater, river otter, and small felines.”
The main cause of wildlife loss
The loss of wildlife is one of the problems causing the deterioration of biodiversity. In Argentina, a recent report revealed that one of the main causes is animals being run over on the roads.
Usually on roads that cross protected natural areas. This mainly happens in the northern part of the country. Only in Misiones (specifically in the northern province), it is estimated that over 5000 specimens die each year.
Primarily due to people not respecting the established and signaled speed limits, as indicated by the Wildlife Foundation of Argentina.
