Present and Problematic

The Paraguayan Chaco, 81,713 ha were lost in 2004, reaching 398,788 ha in 2011 (an increase of 388%) with the most affected zone being the Dry Chaco forests (98% of the habitat lost). During that same eight-year period, a total of 2,102,219 million ha of natural vegetative cover were lost, with an average rate of change of 262,777 ha/year. Furthermore, natural habitat loss between 2008 and 2009 increased at an alarming rate of 145% (279,206 hectares, the highest in two consecutive years since 2004) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Terra-i land use change detection map, zoomed on deforestation hotspots (red dots) in Paraguay. Right, annual rate of habitat loss and accumulated loss for both Paraguayan Chaco eco-regions and national territory.

The Park Defensores del Chaco, is one of the most most important, not only for its size but also for its history, being one of the first national protected areas in Paraguay and also the territory of the Ayoreo indigenous tribe. Terra-i hasn’t yet detected any anthropogenic habitat loss in this NP (Figure 1) but it has been subject to strong habitat change pressure in the buffer area, mainly due to cattle raising activities (Figure 2).

Fgure 2. The initial steps for habitat loss in protected zones: Growing disturbances (roads) around buffer zones of Defensores del Chaco National Park, Paraguay. Imagery from Landsat

Going beyond the Terra-i data, the main driver for Paraguayan Chaco habitat change is agricultural land expansion driven by population growth, land colonization, cattle raising, agricultural activities and a near absence of land-use control. According to the data the landscape is experiencing worrying amounts of change – a progressing challenge despite the existence of institutional and legal frameworks put in place to protect forests such as the National Environmental Policy, the Zero Deforestation Law (2004),the Forestry Law, and minority communities’ rights. However,  the institutional framework remains weak and the region lacks  institutional coordination and adequate land use planning.

Cerro León at risk of exploitation

Asunción, December 28, 2014.
The Government intends to make the Cerro León in a quarry to use their stones to build trails in the Paraguayan Chaco. Biologists believe that they would be producing irreparable damage to the heritage of the country in a national park that should be protected.

The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) plans to exploit the Cerro León, located in the Chaco National Park in the department of Alto Paraguay, in the Western Region, for road construction.

Openings consist of establishments to be drilled, the holes must be performed by machines and if necessary, can blow up the holes with the intention of obtaining rock for analysis and better understanding of the type of material stone available.


On the negative side there will be partial removal of vegetation cover on site sampling; the temporary movement of the local fauna and alteration of the physical or abiotic or biotic media movement and gas emissions from vehicles

Picture of a civic campaign in defense of Cerro León.

Irreversible Damage

If the stones used and the impact it could have never recover more. It will cause irreparable and lifelong damage because the rocks do not regenerate. The holes they make will stay forever

The park is an area of a national park and ayoreo ancestral territory and would violate the rights of indigenous peoples and environmental to be located in the Biosphere Reserve of the Paraguayan Chaco.

https://www.facebook.com/DefendamosTodosElCerroLeon/timeline