The aim is to investigate the balances between human systems and natural areas from the dry Chaco of Argentina, considering: economic production, biodiversity and biomass stocks. The dry Chaco is a major deforestation hotspots and one of the least protected areas of the world. I will combine field and satellite information to assess the trade-offs between economic and conservation goals. I will model the relationship these components with environmental heterogeneity and estimate which combinations of land use and natural covers maximize this relation. I will identify conflict areas and conservation hotspots and compare the results to the national ordination plan.