Every November 6, Argentina celebrates the National Parks Day, a date that commemorates the donation of 7,500 hectares in the Nahuel Huapi Lake made in 1903 by the expert Francisco Moreno, a gesture that led to the creation of the current National Parks Administration (APN).
This anniversary found the country’s network of protected areas —comprising 55 territories, of which 39 are national parks— in a context marked by budget cuts close to 30%, according to the 2026 budget project presented by the Executive Power.
An insufficient budget for protected areas
The allocation for National Parks for 2026 amounts to 111,459 million pesos, representing a nominal increase of 14% compared to the 97,769 million pesos in force in 2025. However, the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) warns that this increase is not enough to cover the accumulated losses in funds allocated to protected natural areas.
In real terms, considering inflation, the increase would be just 0.08%, which does not compensate for the declines recorded in previous years.
Successive declines in allocations
Since 2023, the national budget has been extended without new laws approved. In this context, allocations for National Parks have suffered significant declines:
- 2024: reduction of 34%.
- 2025: reduction of 29.2%.
- 2026: projected reduction of 28.5%.
Additionally, there are allocations called “figurative expenditures”, under the orbit of the Cabinet Chief, totaling 118,026 million pesos. However, since they are not disaggregated, it is unknown what proportion effectively corresponds to National Parks, as they are also distributed between the Indec and the National Treasury.
Discretion and monitoring of environmental funds
The decision to extend the 2023 budget grants the Executive Power greater discretion to modify allocations, allowing the reallocation of unused funds to other areas through decrees of necessity and urgency (DNU), administrative decisions, or laws.
In this scenario, FARN decided to closely monitor environmental allocations, not only to know how much is allocated to protected areas but also to evaluate how the government responds to specific emergencies, such as forest fires.
The most affected environmental allocations
According to FARN’s analysis, environmental allocations were the most affected in the 2025 budget compared to the 2024 project, with declines ranging from 34% to 81%.
This situation raises concerns about the APN’s ability to fulfill its mission of conserving biodiversity, protecting critical habitats, and ensuring the sustainable management of national parks, especially in a context of climate crisis and increasing pressure on ecosystems.
An anniversary with challenges
The National Parks Day recalls Francisco Moreno’s legacy and the importance of protected areas as Argentina’s natural and cultural heritage. However, the 122nd anniversary arrives at a time of budgetary constraints that jeopardize the management and conservation of these spaces.
The discussion about the financing of national parks becomes central to ensuring that the network of protected areas continues to be a pillar of the country’s environmental identity, capable of facing the challenges of the present and the future.
