Conservation and restoration of threatened forest and tree species in Argentina

Conservation and restoration of threatened forest and tree species in subtropical native forests of Argentina

Partner: CONICET / Fundación ProYungas
Years: 2025-2028

This project team, composed of researchers from CONICET (Argentina National Council for Scientific and Technical Research), members of Botanical Gardens, and professors from national universities, is aiming to improve the medium to long-term conservation of approximately 500 hectares of Yungas forest, 400 hectares of Chaco forest, and 250 hectares of Espinal.

Jacaranda mimosifolia

In these areas, the population status of six threatened species in the Yungas and six in Chaco is assessed, along with nine species in the Yungas and eight in the Chaco and Espinal that have not yet been evaluated by the IUCN. The target species include Amburana cearensis (EN), Cedrela angustifolia (VU), Cedrela balansae (EN), Jacaranda mimosifolia (VU), Libidibia paraguariensis (VU), Myrcianthes callicoma (VU), Myrcianthes pungens (EN), Schinus gracilipes (VU).
CONICET and its partners create a germplasm bank for the reproduction of these species, along with protocols for their conservation and germination. They also reintroduce threatened species that have disappeared from the conservation sites, alongside restoration activities aimed to improving habitat quality.
To this end, the project team evaluates strategies for invasive species management and habitat improvement throughout the project, supported by careful post-management monitoring. In addition, restoration activities are planned across 20 hectares of Yungas forest and 40 hectares of Espinal forest in agricultural areas adjacent to the conservation sites, enabling the recovery of 3,000 linear meters of biological corridors in the Yungas and Chaco, and 4,000 linear meters in the Espinal, thereby expanding and reconnecting habitat for these species.