With the aim of regenerating agroecosystems and promoting sustainable production, and with the support of the John Deere Foundation, a collaborative project of reforestation and ecological restoration has been initiated in the Gran Chaco.
This initiative aims to increase forest cover in productive landscapes, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and resilience against extreme climatic events.
Strategic alliance for conservation in the Gran Chaco
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization with over 70 years of experience in land, water, and community conservation, and leads the strategic alliance that gave life to this project.
“The collaboration with Nativas has been crucial, as their innovative approach combines the development of nature-based solutions with technological tools, monitoring, and impact assessment. This project not only seeks to restore degraded areas but also to integrate trees into productive systems sustainably,” highlighted Elisa Carrión, leader of forest, carbon, and climate work at TNC.
First stages and results
The first stage of the project was carried out in two productive establishments: one in Tostado, Santa Fe province, and another in Bandera, Santiago del Estero province.
In this initial phase, 20,000 native trees were planted, including carob trees, thorn trees, and mistoles. The plantation was implemented by Optimizar Forestal, a company with extensive experience in forestry services. The selection of these species prioritized their drought resistance and their capacity for adaptation to extreme conditions.
In future phases, to be developed over the next 3 years, it is expected to impact other establishments in the Gran Chaco, reaching the planting of 108,000 trees.
These interventions, which aim to promote biological connectivity between patches of native forest, connect tree masses through ecosystem restoration.
They also include the reintroduction of trees in livestock establishments to implement silvopastoral systems that provide shade, improve pasture use efficiency, and reduce cattle stress.
In the long term, these actions also incorporate forage resources such as carob pods, which help homogenize grazing and increase system sustainability.
“We are excited to implement regenerative technologies that not only address climate change but also enhance our livestock project. This alliance is essential for securing the future,” stated Mario Oertlinger, owner of the productive establishment “Don Nicanor” in Tostado.
This project aims to be an example of how strategic collaboration can contribute to carbon capture, promote ecological restoration, provide habitat for biodiversity, and build more resilient productive systems.
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