Working Group for Chaco
[Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay]

The Chaco Working Group is focused on the savannah-type grass/woodland system which covers more than 90M ha in total, comprising in Argentina, 52 M ha, Bolivia, 15 M ha and Paraguay, 23 M ha. The Working Group aims to establish a mechanism of cooperation among the national institutions dealing with research, training and extension and development. The major aim is to establish the basis for sustainable agro/sylvo/pastoral production systems making better use of natural indigenous vegetation, together with the appropriate introduction of herbaceous grass and legume germplasm. 

The main priorities are to survey and describe the various predominant ecosystems, and seed production.

The types of activity engaged in include: 

  • long term ecological studies, alternatives to traditional cropping patterns (monoculture of Phaseolus spp.);
  • development of grassland management systems that can arrest present degradation/desertification (within limited resources available);
  • studies of the sociological factors which affect current use of resources;
  • the identification, collection and multiplication of valuable indigenous germplasm (herbaceous and woody perennials). 
International coordinator:

Ing. Agr. H.E. Pérez
E.E.A. Santiago del Estero - CC 268
4200 - Sto. del Estero - RA
Argentina
Tel: 00-54-85-22-4430/4596/4730
FAX: as above 

Papers