Chaco forest: characteristics, flora and fauna

Before starting with the characteristics, we will first mention what the Argentine Chaco Forest Location. To locate ourselves well in the area where we can find this great wooded bioma, we will mention What provinces covers the Argentine Chaco forest. Among them are: Formosa, Chaco, East Santiago del Estero, Norte de Santa Fe, Córdoba, San Luis, Este de Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca and La Rioja and West Corrientes.

Regarding the Characteristics of the Chaco forestwe can summarize the following:

• With regard to Chaco forest reliefpresents a marked heterogeneity that allows the region to be differentiated in two subregions: Dry Chaco to the west, defined as a sedimentary plain, molded by the rivers that cross the region and humid chaco described as a plain with soft pending pending that form high albardons with respect to the surrounding surroundings.
• As for the Climate in the Chaco forestis characterized by being warm subtropical. However, within the Chaco region There are differences in rainfall that, precisely, give rise to the name of the two subregions mentioned above: Dry Chaco with rainfall that vary between 500 to 700 mm per year, and wet Chaco with values ​​between 750 to 1300 mm per year.
• Finally, referred to Chaco forest floorin general it presents high contents of sand and clay and low percentages of organic matter.

He Chaco forest It actually has a wide variety of environments, among which we can find: xerophilic forests or dry forests, savannas, jungles or forests in gallery, palm trees, estuaries, lagoons and more. Because of this, the Chaco forest vegetation It is extremely diverse. Let’s see here some of the species of Chaco forest plants more characteristics:

• Quebachos (Schinopsis spp. and Aspidosperma spp.
• Algarrobos (Prosopis spp.
• Palo Santo (Bulnesia Sarmientoi)
• Mistol (Ziziphus mystol)
• Chañar (Geoffroea Decorticans)
• Colorado timbó (Enterolobium Contortisiliquum)
• Ombú (Phytolacca dioica)
• Roofing straw (Panicum Prionitis)
• TOTORA (Schoenoplectus Californicus)

Because of the marked difference that exists between Dry Chaco and Wet Chaco, not all Chaco forest animals They are found in both subregions. For example, the giant cart or armadillo (Maximus prixes) is exclusive to the dry Chaco, while those animals related to the bodies of water, such as coipo (Myocastor Coypus), the yacarés (Caiman spp.), the river wolf (Lontra Longicaudis) and others, are typical of the humid Chaco.

However, there are fauna species that are distributed in both subregions, some of them are:

• Puma (Puma concolor)
• Yaguareté or jaguar (Panthera onca)
• Hormiguero (Myrmecophaga Tridactyla)
• Tapir (Tapirus spp.)
• Melero bear (Tamanduca Tetradactyla)

Like the vast majority of world’s ecosystems, the Argentine Chaco forest is exposed to numerous environmental problems that lead to the destruction of ecosystems and loss of species. What are the main Environmental problems of the Chaco forest?

• To begin deforestation of the Chaco forest. Consequently, the clearing causes Loss and fragmentation of habitat which increases the vulnerability of the fauna to illegal hunters and run over routes, two other adversities that local biodiversity must face. Here you can learn more about deforestation in Argentina: causes and consequences.
• In addition, fire is another environmental problem that affects the Chaco forest. Most of The fires They are intentional, however, the Chaco region is not exempt from global warming and the highest registered temperatures increase fire probabilities.
• Last but no less serious, another environmental problem of the Bioma of the Chaco forest is that it presents a long list of invasive species that compete with local biodiversity and in many cases they end up moving them. In this article you will know 12 invasive species in Argentina.

The Chaco forest conservation RIt is urgent and primary: the human settlements that inhabit the area are being severely affected by ecosystem degradation and, as if that were not enough, many species of native flora and fauna are in danger of extinction.

Faced with this situation, it is worth highlighting the existence of More than 7 protected areasbetween national parks and natural reserves, which are destined to the conservation of some of the different environments presented by the Chaco region. In those areas, fortunately, multiple projects are developed species reintroduction and ecosystems restoration.

Despite this, there are no overwhelming regulations that prohibit or, at least, limit the deforestation of the relicts (remnants of an ecosystem that is in regression due to natural or human causes) of the Chaco forest and neither controls and restrictions that sanction those who are dedicated to hunting and illegal trafficking of species OA who intentionally cause fires.

We recommend reading these other articles on the importance of natural reserves and protected areas and what is ecological restoration, types and examples.

If you want to read more articles similar to Chaco forest: characteristics, flora and faunawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.