ARGENTINA

Argentina has over 33 million ha of forest, representing over 12% of the country's land area. Between 1990 and 2005 Argentina lost 6.4% of its natural forest cover, although plantation expansion resulted in the net forest loss being lower at 2.1%. A forestry bill in 1997 offered tax breaks and subsidies to foreign investors for establishing tree plantations and the aim was to plant an average of 200,000 ha per year from 2000 to 2009. Although this target was not achieved, an average of approximately 50,000 ha per year were planted from 2000 to 2008.

Much of the destruction of natural forests is due to the spread of agribusiness. In the central province of Cordoba soy production has increased steadily in the last decade, replacing forests; of the 10 million ha of forest in Cordoba a century ago, only 12% remain and in some areas, the figure is as low as 2%. The result has been soil erosion, water shortages and localised changes to the climate. The Cordoba Environment Agency introduced a law in 2005 banning clear-cutting for a period of 10 years, but allowing 'sustainable logging' in native forests.

In the north western province of Salta, the number of permits issued by the provincial government for land conversion increased in recent years; in 2007 alone, permits issued allowed for the felling of half a million ha of forest. At the end of 2008, 18 indigenous communities presented a demand to the Supreme Court for an immediate halt to the deforestation. The court imposed an immediate ban on deforestation in the region and demanded a public consultation take place prior to the court taking a final decision. This deforestation is also threatening the habitats of many species, including the jaguar and seven other cat species.

Timber is not a major industry in Argentina; many of the companies involved in land clearing for agribusiness are also involved in the paper and pulp industry. Much of the potentially valuable timber is in remote areas and remains unexploited.

In 2008 the World Bank approved a US$60 million loan to Argentina to work with smaller farmers to improve sustainable management of forest resources and preserve biodiversity. The work will focus on the most the most threatened areas, where ecosystems have been seriously damaged by agribusiness. In another positive move, the Canadian Forest Service has begun working with Argentina to develop six 'model forests' and develop local indicators to monitor progress towards sustainable forest management.

NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
02/02/2011	The world's 10 most threatened forest hotspots As UN marks 2011 the International Year of Forests, Conservation International highlights forest ecosystems ...	Conservation International
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17/01/2011	Rainfall patterns can't be ignored in climate change debate Rio de Janeiro - In discussions of human activities that affect the climate, there is relatively little ...	IPS News
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15/12/2010	Deforestation sparks giant rodent invasions Capybara are expanding into areas of deforestation throughout South America, reports a new study conducted ...	Mongabay.com
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02/11/2009	Five nations sign up to UN initiative to tackle deforestation Five countries today joined the United Nations initiative aimed at combating climate change by creating ...	UN News Centre
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30/10/2009	Eyeing flood waters, Argentine ranchers move cattle Diamante, Argentina - Argentine ranchers aided by soldiers were rushing on Friday to move nearly 1 million ...	Reuters
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20/10/2009	Three South American nations promise to halt deforestation Buenos Aires, Argentina — Three South American nations announced a joint plan Tuesday to establish ...	The Associated Press
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01/11/2008	Sustainable forest management in Argentina Canada and Argentina are working together to develop sustainable forest management (SFM) practices in ...	Natural Elements newsletter from Natural Resources Canada
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25/03/2008	Forestry project in Argentina receives US$60 million World Bank loan The World Bank has announced the approval of a US$60 million investment loan to improve the sustainable ...	PMForum
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16/02/2008	Latin America: Deforestation still winning Mexico City - Never before have Latin America and the Caribbean fought so hard against deforestation, ...	IPS News Agency
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04/02/2007	Finland's Botnia says relocating Uruguay pulp mill "not an option" Buenos Aires, Argentina - Finnish company Oy Metsa-Botnia AB said it will not consider moving an Uruguay ...	International Herald Tribune (France)
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23/01/2007	ICJ rejects Uruguay bid to end paper mill protest blockades by Argentines The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Tuesday denied a request by Uruguay to force Argentina to put ...	JURIST (USA)
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19/01/2007	Uruguay and Argentina clash over pulp mills in Rio do Janeiro Uruguay and Argentina clashed over the pulp mills controversy during the Thursday meeting of the Mercosur ...	MercoPress (Uruguay)
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19/12/2006	Uruguay: Though not yet in operation, Metsa Botnia's pulp mill already smells rotten (Press Release, Guayubira Group Uruguay) It is almost certain that the Finnish public know little or ...	World Rainforest Movement Bulletin (Uruguay)
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07/12/2006	EU ratifies support for Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay The European Union praised the World Bank decision to extend a 170 million US dollars loan for the completion ...	MercoPress (Uruguay)
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17/10/2006	World Bank units to recommend pulp mills project Washington, USA - The World Bank's private-sector lender and guarantee agency said on Tuesday they ...	Reuters (UK)
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11/10/2006	Argentine activists to resume pulp mill protests Argentine environmental activists are planning to block the main road into Uruguay on Friday to protest ...	Euro2day (Greece)
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17/03/2005	More soy, less forest - and no water Buenos Aires - In the Argentine province of Cordoba, the prosperity of the countryside stands in stark ...	IPS News Agency
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14/03/2004	Argentina: Law change aids destruction of forests The Fund for the Defense of the Environment (FUNAM) and several environmental organizations denounced ...	LatinamericaPress.org
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08/08/2003	Argentina: logging destroys reserve, threatens jaguar Buenos Aires - The massive clearing of trees in the northwestern Argentine forests of Las Yungas is devastating ...	OneWorld
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