Rethink roads through the Chaco Serrano forest

Abstract

Despite global initiatives to protect ecosystems (1), human development continues to threaten the environment. In central Argentina, the subtropical dry Chaco Serrano forest has lost 94% of its original area (2) to the economic growth of the region led by agriculture, urbanization, and mining (2, 3). Now, plans for new road infrastructure (4) suggest that the Chaco Serrano forest will continue to shrink, further fragmenting the forest ecosystem. The Córdoba provincial government has granted an environmental license for the construction of two additional roads that will cut through areas of Chaco Serrano forest in the Punilla and Paravachasca valleys. These recently burned forest areas of high conservation priority, according to national laws (5, 6), should be protected without exception.