Argentina's native woodlands are under threat from the expansion of soy and cattle ranching, with farmers often willing to accept low fines for clearing land to take advantage of high global grains prices, a forestry official told Reuters.
The South American country has lost some 7 million hectares of native woodland since 1998, despite a 2007 law to regulate clearances. Over half of the deforestation is illegal, said Martin Monaco, director of forests at the environment ministry.
"Many times fines aren't enough to discourage people," Monaco told Reuters, adding nearly 90% of clearances were in the hugeforests in the north. Farmers weighed the low land and operation costs against the high sales prices, he said.Enforcement of regulations is down to regional governments in a federal system, with local authorities often balancing environmental concerns with the desire for economic growth, he said.
Under the 2007 legislation there are 10 million hectares of "red" forests that are illegal to clear; 30 million hectares of "yellow" that can be used for producing without the need for clearing; and 10 million of "green" clearable forest land.
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