Nearly 60,000 ha of forests Illegally cleared in northern Argentina last year

12.02.2018

A new report released by Greenpeace has revealed that nearly half of the deforestation that took place in northern Argentina last year was illegal. The four northern provinces of Salta, Santiago del Estero, Formosa and Chaco accounted for 80 percent of all deforestation in the country.

In 2017, 128,217 hectares were deforested in these provinces, of which 59,541 hectares were illegally cleared. The majority of illegal deforestation took place in Santiago del Estero and Chaco Provinces.

According to Greenpeace, the main causes behind this deforestation were the expansion of the agricultural frontier – especially soy cultivation and cattle ranching – and forest fires.

Greenpeace points to low fines and complicity of civil servants as main drivers of persistent illegal deforestation. Since 2007, when the National Forest Law was approved, more than 750,000 hectares have been illegally cleared in Argentina.

More from Blog

The bulldozers were just about to switch off their engines. Now the European Commission wants to re-fuel them

Continue reading
Planned clearance for timber plantation underlines critical importance of EUDR

Continue reading
Under threat / The EU must stand firm to help protect the world’s forests

Continue reading
Sanctions / EU finally bans Belarusian furniture

Continue reading
Revealed / Former Better Cotton employee exposes scheme’s fundamental flaws

Continue reading
Sanctions breached / Evidence of laundering of finished Russian plywood found

Continue reading
Russian Sanctions / US sanctions should cover blood timber

Continue reading
Paraguayan leather / Are Italian tannery’s pledges on deforestation enough?

Continue reading
EU Deforestation Regulation / Success of landmark deforestation law far from assured 

Continue reading
EU Law / MEPs must strengthen planned corporate sustainability due diligence law

Continue reading

Stay up to date with all Earthsight news & updates

Receive email updates for the latest news and insights from Earthsight and be among the first to read our new investigations.

We keep your data secure and don’t share anything with third parties. Read full terms.