Applied science to the monitoring of native forests in the Parque Chaqueño

Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires (FAUBA) signed a Letter of Agreement at the Rector's Office of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) for the implementation of a project to analyze forest regeneration in transformed areas of the Chaco Park forest region, within the framework of Argentina's REDD+ Payments for Results Project. The initiative aims to generate scientific tools for the design and implementation of native forest monitoring strategies.

The agreement includes two years of research and technical development, with an investment of USD 93,000, aimed at generating updated knowledge from satellite images on regeneration processes—structural and functional characterization—of the transformed areas of Chaco Park, between 1998 and 2022.

The signing ceremony was attended by Maya Takagi, FAO's ad interim representative in Argentina; Program Officer María Laura Escuder; and the general coordinator of the PPR Project, Francisco Yofre. Also present were the National Director of Natural Resources, Octavio Pérez Pardo; the rector of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Ricardo Gelpi; the dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FAUBA), Adriana Rodríguez; the technical manager of the project, Pablo Baldassini; and the project director, Sebastián Aguiar, among other officials; as well as members of the technical team of the +Science +Forests Program.

During her presentation, Maya Takagi emphasized: "This agreement allows us to leverage the scientific and technical capabilities of the University of Buenos Aires and strengthen collaboration with the academic sector, a key aspect for driving informed decisions and promoting sustainable practices. The knowledge generated not only benefits local communities but also contributes to global learning regarding sustainable forest management".

In turn, Octavio Pérez Pardo celebrated the signed agreement and emphasized, "It is essential to have tools that allow us to quickly detect forest cover loss and analyze what happens next: how regeneration occurs in deforested, degraded, or burned areas, and how much can be recovered. This work provides a key component that was not yet present in the native forest monitoring system. Therefore, the value of this research and the commitment of a top-level academic team is so significant".

For his part, Ricardo Gelpi emphasized the importance of coordinating science and public policy:
"One of the main objectives of this university is to generate knowledge. This agreement not only contributes to that goal but also promotes the training of new researchers, especially young people committed to science and environmental protection. Studying land-use changes in regions threatened by deforestation is key to designing evidence-based public policies".

A system to monitor the future of forests

The agreement aims to develop a monitoring system for forest regeneration in the Chaco Park, one of the forest regions most affected by deforestation and degradation.

The main objectives of the project include:

- Mapping and quantifying the regeneration of native forests.
- Analyzing their spatial and temporal patterns.
- Characterizing the structure and functioning of woody vegetation.
- Developing and transferring a long-term monitoring system.

Throughout the project, key technical products will be generated, such as regeneration maps, ecological characterizations, analysis of spatial and temporal patterns, and a concrete proposal for a monitoring system, with the aim of strengthening territorial and environmental planning in the region. Furthermore, training for Forestry Directorate technicians in the use of the developed system is planned.

This agreement is part of the +Science +Forests Program, a strategic line of Argentina's REDD+ Payments for Results Project that promotes innovation and the development of scientific and technological knowledge related to the forestry sector. The program seeks to respond to the real needs of the territories and contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources, strengthening the sector's sustainability, productivity, and competitiveness. Specifically, this initiative falls under the applied research category, aimed at the preparation of technical documents and R&D&I (Research, Development, and Innovation) projects that provide concrete technical criteria for the conservation and responsible use of native forests in different regions of the country.