Depletion of Forest Cover
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 16,288,000 ha of forest cover was destroyed in just two decades (from 1980-2000). Cattle overgrazing and agricultural expansion are the primary cause for deforestation.
Agricultural Expansion
The advance and expansion of soybean crops have alerted conservationists to the threatened Chaco eco-region and the Yungas cloud forest. Farmers have begun to boldly expand their land use in hopes of increasing production for export in these fragile areas, home to one of the largest forested biomes in South America.
Beef Production
Production of beef and beef "feeding" are major threats to Argentina's natural habitats. Argentina's Espinal ecoregion (thorny deciduous shrubland) is a particularly threatened area of vast plant and animal diversity by negligent beef production.
Census Report
A report taken from a 1914 census declared that Argentina had approximately 105 million ha of forest at the turn of the 20th century. Today, it is estimated that through vast deforestation and pollution only 28 to 45 million ha of forest cover remains.
Energy Consumption
Argentina has a growing population with ever-increasing demand for land use. Argentina's inefficient management of nonrenewable energy contributes heavily to its growing pollution problem.
Article Written By Jeremiah Blanchard
Jeremiah Blanchard has been writing professionally since 2006, specializing in nature, environment, conservation and travel. His work has appeared in activist columns on Socyberty.com and Authspot.com. Blanchard has studied photography at William Carey College and has a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Southern Mississippi.
