An extensive 250-kilometer channel runs through part of Santiago del Estero with the aim of providing water to arid areas and boosting livestock farming. However, this public work, funded by the National Government and executed by the provincial government, has become an environmental threat to local wildlife.
The Nuevo Canal de la Patria, lined with concrete, was conceived as a solution to improve access to water in one of the driest regions of the country. However, its rigid design and sloping walls function as deadly traps for local wildlife.
Three recognized environmental organizations —Aves Argentinas, FARN, and Fundación Vida Silvestre— filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court, denouncing “serious collective environmental damage.” They claim that the project violates basic principles of biodiversity protection and also puts human health at risk.
In just half a year, the deaths of over 250 animals from more than 40 native species have been reported, some of them endangered. The impact is not only ecological but also sanitary: the decomposition of these bodies would compromise the water quality for nearby communities.
Avoidable Disaster in a Fragile Ecoregion like Santiago del Estero
The canal passes through the Dry Chaco, a critical ecoregion with high levels of deforestation. There, wild animals that fall into the channel cannot escape due to the slippery slopes, turning the project into a deadly trap.
Among the lifeless specimens found are anteaters, turtles, deer, peccaries, and armadillos, all essential parts of the ecological balance. Their loss not only impoverishes biodiversity but also disrupts the natural functioning of the ecosystem.
The organizations demand an urgent plan for environmental mitigation and restoration. They request constant monitoring of fauna and water quality, construction of escape routes for animals, and the adaptation of critical sections. They also demand a rigorous and continuous environmental evaluation.
The lawsuit is based on Article 41 of the National Constitution, which obliges the State to restore the damaged environment. Although they recognize the need for water infrastructure in vulnerable areas, they insist that it must be done without destroying the natural environment.
The Supreme Court will now be responsible for determining if this project, which aimed to bring life, will end up being synonymous with death for hundreds of species in one of the most heavily impacted areas of the country.
A Construction with Environmental Consequences
The construction of the Canal de la Patria in Santiago del Estero was conceived as a strategic project to ensure water supply and promote livestock development in an area marked by drought. With a length of 250 kilometers and lined with concrete, the canal crosses one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in the country: the Dry Chaco.
Beyond its impact on fauna, the infrastructure has profoundly altered the natural landscape. The canal’s route interrupts natural waterways, alters underground flows, and can cause changes in soil moisture cycles. This represents a threat to the surrounding ecosystems, which rely on water balance to sustain their biodiversity.
The lack of comprehensive environmental studies and the absence of post-construction monitoring have raised concerns about the risk of salinization, erosion, and loss of vegetation cover. Additionally, intensive water channeling without sustainable planning could compromise the long-term availability of the resource, affecting not only nature but also the rural communities dependent on it.
