Wetlands are areas or extensions of land that remain in flooded conditions or with saturated soil for a considerable period of time.
“In our country, wetlands are disappearing, not only because of the drought, but because they are being dried up to use them for productive activity. Many of those that disappear are in rural areas in the interior of the country. There are groups that buy these ecosystems for insignificant prices to make them productive,” explained Ricardo Mascheroni, environmentalist reference. In fact, in the last 50 years, the planet has lost 35% of these areas.
In Argentina, these ecosystems occupy 21.5% of the country; In other words, they cover 600,000 km² of Argentine soil. If we see it on a global scale, wetlands occupy 6% of the earth’s surface, but the most important fact is that they serve as habitat for 40% of all plant and animal species, according to the United Nations Organization. Some of them were also declared as Ramsar sites, that is, of vital importance under the Wetlands Convention.
Wetlands in Argentina
Argentina is one of the countries where they are most abundant. They are located in 20 points, among which are:
- The lagoons and estuaries of Iberá, in Corrientes.
- The lagoons of Guanacache, Desaguadero and Del Bebedero, in Mendoza.
- The Altoandinas and Puneñas lagoons, in Catamarca.
- The site called Jaaukanigás, north of the Paraná River, in Santa Fe.
- The Paraná Delta and Islands ecoregions.
- The Chaco wetlands.
- The bay of Samborombón, in the province of Buenos Aires.
- The Vinciguerra glacier and associated peat bogs, in Tierra del Fuego.
“Most of the wetlands belong to the State, which has had little surveillance. In the case of Santa Fe, 50% belongs to the province. In many cases they have been given to the communes for production, who in turn They have made arrangements with cattle ranchers,” explained Mascheroni.
Although several bills have been proposed in Argentina to establish minimum budgets for the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of these ecosystems, the wetland law still remains a pending debt.
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