Environmental and socio-economic problems associated to land-use patterns in the Chaco Region (Argentina)

Abstract

Environmental  and  socio-economic  problems  associated  to  land-use  patterns  in  the  Chaco  Region  (Argentina). The work describes  the  environmental,  social  and  economic  problems  affecting  the  NE  of  Santiago  de  Estero  province  (Argentina).  Agricultural practices, cattle raising, forestry and the use of fire for forest clearing are the main activities affecting the environment in the area. Main socioeconomic  problems  include  the  lack  of  transport  and  communication  infrastructures,  poor  water  supply  facilities,  inadequate  social services, the lack of market structures for local products, and deficient land ownership records. We present part of a wider study that aims at providing tools to identify, interpret, explain and evaluate the state of the region. Here we focus on a description of the main environmental, social and economic problems.