Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a vast, seasonally dry lowland region of forests, scrub, and grasslands spanning parts of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Chaco Seco: The drier western portion of the Gran Chaco, dominated by thorn forest and scrub. Its harsher water deficit distinguishes the western Chaco from the region’s wetter east.
Deforestation in the Gran Chaco: The clearing of native forests in the Gran Chaco, especially for cattle ranching and crop production. Forest loss is among the region’s most consequential recent land-use changes.
Jaguar: A large American cat and apex predator found in forests, wetlands, and other habitats. Jaguars persist in parts of the Chaco, where habitat fragmentation threatens their populations.
Habitat fragmentation: The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches, often by roads or land conversion. Fragmentation separates Chaco wildlife populations and limits movement through remaining forest.
Deforestation-free supply chain: A supply chain designed to exclude products linked to forest clearing. Such standards could reduce market incentives for clearing Chaco forests.
Chaco Húmedo: The wetter eastern portion of the Gran Chaco, with extensive wetlands, grasslands, and seasonally flooded forests. Seasonal flooding and richer wetlands characterize the eastern Chaco.
Soybean production in Argentina: The cultivation of soybeans as a major agricultural commodity in Argentina. Soy expansion has driven conversion of Chaco forests, particularly in Argentina.
Giant anteater: A large insect-eating mammal native to Central and South America. Its presence illustrates the Chaco’s mix of forest, scrub, and open grassland habitats.
Land conflict: Disputes over access to, ownership of, or control over land and its resources. Agricultural expansion in the Chaco has intensified disputes involving Indigenous and rural communities.
Indigenous land rights in Argentina: The legal and political recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights to ancestral lands in Argentina. Unresolved claims shape conservation and development decisions in the Argentine Chaco.