FAQ · Environment & Climate 23

Argentina features 35 national parks that cover a wide variety of terrains and biotopes. These areas range from Baritú National Park on the northern border to Tierra del Fuego National Park in the far south. The National Parks Administration is the agency responsible for managing these parks, as well as natural monuments and national reserves. This administration also oversees natural and educational reserves throughout the country. Their headquarters are located in downtown Buenos Aires on Santa Fe Avenue.

Argentina offers a wide variety of wildlife to observe across its diverse landscapes. You can encounter flamingos, penguins, caimans, capybaras, and sea lions throughout the country. In certain areas, you might even see whales. The Ibera wetlands are known for having the most diverse fauna in the nation. Additionally, visitors to Patagonia can meet millions of penguins that come to the region to nest and raise their young.

Research into the medicinal flora of the Córdoba province includes studies on wild or naturalized pteridophytes and anthophytes. Botanist Gloria Estela Barboza co-edited a significant text on this subject in 2006. Her work covers various species found within the region. This research is part of a broader scientific effort that has been in preparation since 1961. Such studies help document the diverse plant life available in the province.

Argentina has committed to capping net greenhouse gas emissions across its economy to 349 million tonnes by 2030. The country is also committed to achieving net zero and carbon neutrality by 2050. Carbon capture and storage is identified as a potential mitigation pathway, particularly for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate industrial sectors and natural-gas-fired power generation. While the country does not yet operate commercial-scale facilities, there is significant geological storage potential in major sedimentary basins. National planning documents also reference hydrogen technologies as possible long-term decarbonization tools.

The World Bank is currently financing the Renewable Energy in the Rural Market Project, known as PERMER. This project aims to provide electricity access to 1.8 million people and 6,000 public services located far from distribution centers. The electrification of these areas will primarily use solar photovoltaic systems. Other technologies such as wind and micro-hydraulic turbines will also be utilized. This initiative focuses on reaching dispersed markets that lack traditional energy connections.

Argentina has committed to capping net greenhouse gas emissions across its economy to 349 million tonnes by 2030. The country has also pledged to reach net zero and carbon neutrality by 2050. Carbon capture and storage is identified as a potential mitigation pathway, especially for hard-to-abate industrial sectors and natural-gas-fired power generation. While commercial-scale facilities do not yet operate, there is significant geological storage potential in major sedimentary basins. National planning documents also reference hydrogen technologies as possible long-term decarbonization tools.

The water coverage situation in Argentina is generally viewed as unacceptable. Circumstances are exacerbated by irrational consumption and waste in most of the country's systems. Much of this waste is caused in large part by inadequate fees that do not accurately represent the value of water. The average municipal use is nearly 500 liters per person per day. This ranks Argentina near the top of municipal water use in Latin America.

Puna soils consist of a stony layer and an organic rich layer with an average depth of 33 cm. These soils feature a low diversity of bacteria, where the rhizosphere of grasses is dominated by Bacillas species. These organisms exist as dormant cells to survive extreme climatic conditions similar to desert soils. In certain areas between 3800 and 4000 m, vegetation is sustained by brown andic soils on ash-fall deposits. Different rock unit formations in the Puna create distinct soil conditions that help identify the local flora.

Wildfires in Argentina are fueled by the Zonda, which is a hot dry wind. This wind affects the Cuyo region and the central pampas. The Zonda can blow for hours with gusts reaching up to 120 km/h. Additionally, climate change in Argentina is fueling wildfires and causing damage. These environmental changes are impacting the country's overall living conditions.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred on 2 May in the Drake Passage off the coast of Ushuaia. This seismic event prompted tsunami warnings and evacuations in Tierra del Fuego. The impact also extended to parts of Antarctica and southern Chile. This event is a notable recent instance of earthquake activity in the region.

In April 2003, the city of Santa Fe experienced its worst flooding since its founding in 1573. Heavy rainfall caused major rivers to rise rapidly, including the Salado River which overflowed its margins. This disaster forced approximately 100,000 people to evacuate and resulted in 154 deaths. Many houses were damaged or destroyed, and a large amount of farmland was lost. The flooding was considered unusual because the Salado River is typically less prone to such events than the Paraná river area.

The water balance of this basin has been negative for seventy years, creating a highly compromised situation. Climate change has caused a significant drop in both rainfall and snowfall levels. Excessive and unregulated consumption by farmers through illegal canals also diminishes the river flow. Additionally, the oil industry uses large amounts of water for extraction without official control. Rapid demographic growth in cities supplied by the aqueduct further aggravates the resource scarcity. High evaporation rates also contribute to the massive loss of water from the lake.

The headwaters of the Futaleufú River are found in the glacial snow melt of Los Alerces National Park. This park is a UNESCO protected area located in the Chubut Province of Argentina. The river is fed by a chain of lakes within this specific national park. This watershed drains the Southern Andes Mountains from Argentina into Chile. The surrounding area features glaciated peaks that drop significantly below the river gorge.

The dry and cool Yunga Coastal begins at 500 m above sea level. This area is situated between the eastern part of the coastal strip and the western part of the Highlands. The Maritime Yunga is found between 500 and 2,300 m. This subregion features a subtropical desert climate with little rainfall along the central and southern coast. As you move north, the climate becomes subtropical in certain vicinities.

The Atlantic Forest remains extraordinarily lush in biodiversity and endemic species despite having only 28% of native vegetation cover remaining. In the interior portion of the Atlantic Forest in Argentina, 22 species are currently listed as threatened. Over 11,000 species of plants and animals are considered threatened today within the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. This area is home to many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world. New species are continually being found in this region, including many flowering plants.

The Chorote people traditionally practiced a subsistence lifestyle that combined hunting, gathering, fishing, and small-scale horticulture. During the rainy season, villages were relatively settled, but families moved more widely using temporary camps during the dry season. Their diet included wild fruits, honey, and cultivated plants such as maize, cassava, and various kinds of squash. Fishing also remains a significant activity closely tied to settlements along the Pilcomayo. This traditional way of life incorporates a wide range of edible plants and diverse fishing techniques.

Mar del Plata serves as the main industrial fishing port and the cradle of Argentina's commercial fishing industry. Historically, the industry was predominantly managed by Italian immigrants and their descendants. In the early days, fishermen operated from the open beach and used horses to move their boats through the sand. The industry saw a significant boost in the 1940s due to the development of the canning industry and the demand for shark liver oil. Common species caught in these waters include the Atlantic chub mackerel and the Argentine anchovy.

Rewilding Argentina is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring ecosystems and developing wildlife corridors. The organization purchases private land and then donates it to create or expand national parks, provincial parks, and national reserves. Their work has contributed to the establishment of several areas, including Iberá National Park and Patagonia National Park. They also manage reintroduction projects for 14 native species such as jaguars and giant anteaters. Additionally, the group works with local communities to establish ecotourism near these protected areas.

Argentina participates in several agreements to manage shared water resources with its neighbors. A 1991 treaty with Chile includes a framework agreement to prevent the transfer of pollution through waterways like rivers and lakes. For the La Plata River Basin, a framework exists for sustainable management involving Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay. Additionally, the FREPLATA project works with Uruguay to ensure the sustainable management of the river's biota. Argentina also collaborates with Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay to protect the Guaraní aquifer system. This project aims to implement a shared framework to preserve and manage this massive groundwater reservoir.

Rewilding Argentina is an Argentine nonprofit conservation organization that works to restore ecosystems. They purchase private land to develop wildlife corridors and then donate that land for national parks. This organization has donated land that led to the creation or expansion of six national parks, two provincial parks, and one national reserve. Their efforts include reintroducing native species to these areas. They also work with communities near national parks to establish ecotourism.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is a major tourist attraction located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwest Santa Cruz Province of Argentina. It is situated 78 kilometres from El Calafate and is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This ice formation is one of 48 glaciers fed by an ice field that serves as the world's third largest reserve of fresh water. The glacier was named after the explorer Francisco Moreno, who played a significant role in defending the Argentinian thesis in the 1902 Arbitral award. While it previously maintained a state of equilibrium, the glacier has been retreating on its northern front since 2020.

Argentina is home to 24 wetlands of international importance as of 2025. This includes Iberá, which is recognized as the second largest wetland in the world. These areas are considered vital for biodiversity conservation, particularly in desert or arid regions. It is estimated that 25% of the bird species recorded in Argentina depend on the wetland environment to some degree. These ecosystems play a crucial role in the country's natural landscape.

The Argentine Monte is one of the driest ecoregions in Argentina, consisting of dry thorn scrub and grasslands. Human settlements in this area are primarily located near oases or water supplies like rivers. Desertification in this region has been caused by deforestation and over-grazing around these settlements. This ecoregion extends from the eastern foothills of the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. It covers a large area in north-central Argentina stretching from Salta to Chubut.