An endemic grass from Iguazú achieved legal protection in Misiones after a scientific study determined its unique reproductive characteristics.
It is the Paspalum lilloi, a plant species that exclusively inhabits the area of the Iguazú Falls, in the most inaccessible areas of the National Park.
Since they only grow there, the province passed a law that prohibits its extraction and regulates its research.
This is Law XVI – Nº 172, passed by the House of Representatives of Misiones for the protection of this unique grass from Iguazú, declared a Natural Monument and of Public Interest.
A key investigation for the protection of the grass that grows only in Iguazú
The research was carried out by scientific teams from the National University of the Northeast, the National University of Misiones, and the University of Buenos Aires.
Additionally, specialists from the Institute of Botany of the Northeast (IBONE, CONICET–UNNE) and the Institute of Subtropical Biology (IBS, CONICET–UNaM) participated in the work.
The study analyzed in detail the reproductive biology of the species and provided crucial information for its legal preservation.
The results were published in the Bulletin of the Argentine Society of Botany.
The research established that the Paspalum lilloi is a sexual and self-fertile species, capable of producing viable seeds through self-fertilization.
This characteristic allows it to persist in an environment where the availability of pollinators may be limited.
The unique characteristics of the habitat and threats
This grass now under protection grows in rocky sectors of the Iguazú Falls with a constant flow of water, including areas like the Devil’s Throat.
Its distribution is limited to an estimated area of eight square kilometers within the national parks of Argentina and Brazil.
This restricted distribution motivated its inclusion in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2021. The species was categorized as “Critically Endangered“.
The habitat of the grass from Iguazú has been altered by changes in the hydrological regimes and by works on watercourses in the region.
The study concluded that the conservation of the natural environment is crucial to prevent its disappearance.
The scope of the new law for the protection of this unique grass from Iguazú
The enacted regulation establishes the following measures to ensure the protection of the Paspalum lilloi:
- Prohibits its extraction from the natural environment
- Allows its study only under official authorization
- Permits research for conservation and preservation purposes
- Regulates scientific activities in its natural habitat
The scientific team managed to reproduce specimens in controlled conditions through ex situ cultivation. This line of work opens the possibility of developing germplasm banks and future restoration strategies.
The law was based on scientific criteria related to the endemism of the species, its mode of reproduction, and the fragility of the ecosystem.
The case serves as a precedent for the legal protection of other plant species with restricted distribution in the country.
Thus, the legal protection of this endemic grass from Iguazú represents a significant advancement for the conservation of regional biodiversity.
This regulation ensures that future research is conducted under established protocols.
