SUPPORTED PROJECTS

Building knowledge, tools and capacity for mammal conservation in Chaco agroecosystems of Argentina

A. Sofía Nanni

The largest subtropical forest in the world, the Gran Chaco, is a global hotspot of agricultural expansion and intensification, which coupled with high hunting pressure of the local inhabitants exert great pressure on its biodiversity, especially that of medium-large mammals. Because further land transformation is expected to occur and protected areas are very scarce in the region, it is essential to identify and apply management strategies to enhance biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes like agroecosystems. These are usually more effective if developed jointly with the local stakeholders. By the end of this project, a Key Biodiversity Area of the Argentine Dry Chaco that includes both communal forests inhabited by local communities and agricultural and pastoral farms will be managed to conserve medium-large mammals through the combination of robust data analysis and participatory approaches: medium-large mammal conservation management strategies at the farm and landscape level will be identified, shared and implemented. Local social actors will increase their tolerance towards these species, and will become engaged in the conservation of these species, because interventions to reduce conflicts with certain species will be co-designed and established, and participatory and education activities to build social capacity, and to promote awareness and tolerance towards these species will be held in the area.

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