A restoration project of the Delta del Paraná has already managed to plant more than 600 native plants in nearly 5 hectares of productive fields.
The interinstitutional initiative incorporated 22 different species in forest and livestock areas.
The main objective is to restore the monte blanco, a native riverside forest that shrinks and fragments year after year.
A collaborative model to save the monte blanco
The restoration project of the Delta del Paraná involves the Faculty of Agronomy of UBA (FAUBA), the INTA and forest and livestock producers.
Additionally, the Fundación Humedales and the Fundación Germinar also participate.
The goal is to integrate biodiversity and the care of native flora in productive landscapes.
“The idea of the project is to move towards more sustainable forest management models, resilient and compatible with the conservation of biological diversity,” stated Esteban Borodowski, a professor of Dasonomy at FAUBA.
To achieve this, the team installed 7 restoration modules of 60 m² in different types of productive fields.
In these spaces, they planted more than 400 individuals of native trees, shrubs, lianas, and grasses.
Additionally, in another 4.5 hectares, they added more than 200 native trees.
Delta del Paraná: the species that thrive and those facing challenges
The provisional results of the restoration project of the Delta del Paraná show significant differences between species:
The species with the best performance
- Tarumá
- Ceibo
- Anacahuita
- Canelón verde
The species with the most difficulties:
- Timbó
- Palo amarillo
- Ceibillo
“We want to evaluate their growth and survival,” said Borodowski.
According to the provisional results of the analysis, “the tarumá, ceibo, anacahuita, and canelón verde perform very well.”
However, “the timbó, palo amarillo, and ceibillo are struggling more,” he noted.
The team also records the species that spontaneously colonize the restored sectors.
The first to appear are usually native herbaceous plants, which is why it is crucial to plant tree species.
Restoration of the Delta del Paraná: the multiple benefits of the monte blanco
The restoration of the Delta del Paraná not only protects biodiversity but also generates tangible benefits for production:
Among the ecosystem services of the monte blanco, are:
- Habitat for pollinators that increase agricultural yields
- Refuge for animals that naturally control pests
- Biological corridor between protected areas and productive zones
- Reserve of genetic and medicinal resources
- Reduction of coastal erosion
- Improvement of water quality
Borodowski highlighted additional advantages: “Conserving this native forest allows access to carbon markets, sustainable forest management certifications, and other incentives for good practices.”
The monte blanco is also part of the cultural and landscape identity of the Delta, as it is key to its tourism.
The FAUBA team surveyed plant species in different productive environments of the area.
Among willows and poplars, exotic species like blackberry, privet, and yellow iris predominate. In contrast, livestock and silvopastoral grasslands harbor more native herbaceous species.
This information will allow designing more sustainable management that integrates conservation into forest plantations.
In the future, the restoration project of the Delta del Paraná will evaluate services such as carbon capture and water regulation in different environments of the region.
