The advance of deforestation in the Chaco is not, sadly, a novelty for environmental organizations and large sectors of civil society.
For a long time, they have been warning about the consequences that illegal logging brings to biodiversity and native species. Now, Greenpeace has issued a warning about indiscriminate logging in Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Salta, and Formosa.
They claim that this is leading the emblematic quebracho colorado, declared as the “National Forest Tree”, to a situation of extreme vulnerability.
The quebracho colorado on the brink of extinction
The quebracho colorado, a slow-growing tree with extraordinarily hard wood, is a symbol of the Great American Chaco. Despite its value, historical exploitation for tannin production and railroad sleepers has left it in a critical situation.
The critical situation of the quebracho colorado. (Photo: Wikipedia).
Since 1998, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as an endangered species.
According to Noemí Cruz, coordinator of the Greenpeace Forests campaign, the ongoing deforestation to expand agricultural frontiers is due to the “clear complicity of provincial governments.”
Alarming numbers and call to action
Between 1998 and 2024, Argentina lost 7 million hectares of native forests, according to the NGO’s data. This is an area similar to that of Scotland. Out of this figure, 75% of the destruction is concentrated in the mentioned provinces, where illegal logging prevails.
The current fines are not effective in stopping this “ecocide” that, according to Greenpeace, causes the disappearance of species, climate change, floods, droughts, desertification, and the displacement of indigenous and farming communities.
Faced with this situation, Greenpeace has launched a campaign to demand that illegal logging and forest fires be considered criminal offenses, seeking to end the impunity of forest destruction.
Deforestation in Argentina: the province leading the ranking
According to the environmental group, in 2024, almost 150,000 hectares of forests were lost in the northern region of the country, 10% more than the previous year. Santiago del Estero was the most affected province, with 54,123 hectares deforested, followed by Chaco, Formosa, and Salta.
Forest fires also contributed to the destruction, with 29,763 hectares burned in 2024. In total, combining deforestation and fires, Santiago del Estero lost 55,913 hectares of forests.
What is deforestation and what are its consequences?
Deforestation is the logging of trees or burning of forests to make room for other activities. It is a serious environmental problem with irreversible consequences for the planet.
The consequences of deforestation.
The consequences of deforestation are:
- Global warming: Forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, but by cutting them down, this gas remains in the air, leading to the greenhouse effect.
- Loss of biodiversity: This practice destroys habitats of thousands of plant and animal species.
- Economic and environmental instability: Forests are a source of raw materials, fuel, and medicines.
- Alteration of the water cycle: Deforesting forests leaves soils unprotected from erosion, not to mention that these green spaces nourish freshwater sources.
