Axel Lautaro Gualdoni Becerra
The Dry Chaco Forest, the largest dry forest in South America, is under severe threat due to widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation driven by agricultural expansion. Between 2000 and 2019, over 9.5 million hectares of forest were lost, and only 3.5% of this unique biome in Argentina is legally protected. The forest is now a global hotspot of deforestation, facing urgent conservation challenges. This project aims to address these challenges by investigating the multifaceted impacts of forest fragmentation on the biodiversity of the Dry Chaco Forest.
A path in the forest where the vertical structure can be observed. ©Axel Lautaro Gualdoni Becerra.
Specifically, the project focuses on studying woody flora along a 350 km precipitation gradient, examining how fragmentation, climate variability, and human activities affect different facets of biodiversity: taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity. Forest fragmentation has created isolated patches and strips, resulting in significant edge effects that disrupt ecological processes. The strips, designed as mandatory forest windbreaks to prevent erosion, are under-researched compared to larger forest patches. This project will explore how biodiversity differs between these forest strips and patches and how these changes affect ecosystem functioning.
To achieve this, the research combines detailed field surveys with advanced remote sensing technologies, including UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanners. These tools will provide crucial data on the vertical complexity of vegetation and assess indicators such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) to evaluate ecosystem health. By integrating traditional biodiversity surveys with cutting-edge technology, the project seeks to deliver a comprehensive understanding of how fragmentation impacts forest structure and biodiversity.
The expected outcomes of this project are diverse. First, it will generate scientific insights into the biodiversity dynamics of the Dry Chaco, identifying high-priority areas for conservation and restoration. Second, it will provide recommendations for policymakers and local stakeholders to improve conservation efforts. By informing more effective forest management strategies, this project has the potential to protect critical areas of biodiversity and promote long-term sustainability in this vital ecosystem.
This project is an essential step toward reversing the impacts of deforestation in the Dry Chaco Forest. By focusing on the conservation of biodiversity across fragmented landscapes, it aims to safeguard the ecological integrity of one of South America’s most endangered ecosystems.
Header: Forest strip from above. ©Axel Lautaro Gualdoni Becerra.