Abstract

BAUNI, Valeria et al. Voluntary conservation: updating and characterization of privately protected areas in Argentina. Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat. [online]. 2023, vol.25, n.2, pp.315-332. ISSN 1853-0400.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22179/revmacn.25.812.

Natural protected areas (NPA) are fundamental for biodiversity conservation and those established by govern ments cover more than 12% of the earth’s land surface. However, there are also privately protected areas (PPA) that also contributes to conservation, although their exact coverage is unknown. Through an agreement between the National Ministry of Environment and the Argentine Network of Private Natural Reserves, a database of the country’s PPA was created. The aim of this paper is to present these results and make a first characteriza tion. The number and surface area of PPA by province and ecoregion, year of creation, recognition, the profile of owners, activities and practices carried out were analyzed. Argentina has 336 PPA covering 916,627 ha, which represents 0.33% of the country. The province of Misiones and the Selva Paranaense ecoregion have the largest number, while Mendoza and Monte de Mesetas y Llanuras ecoregion have the largest private protected area. Individuals are the main owners, but PPA belonging to companies are the largest. 60.4% of the PPA does not have any legal instrument of recognition. A total of 13.2% practice only conservation, and 68% combine it with other activities. This work highlights the progress of voluntary conservation in Argentina and its potential. It is important to consider different conservation models where private landowners, owners of most of the territory, are committed to the protection of the biodiversity they harbor.

Keywords : Areas set aside voluntary for conservation; Natural protected areas; Private reserves; Conservation on private lands.

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