Argentina - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

The Republic of Argentina is classified as one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries. Argentina boasts some of the best varieties of ecosystems in the world: 15 continental zones, 3 oceanic zones and the Antarctic region are all represented in its territory. This diversity of ecosystems has led to large species diversity: 9,000 vascular plant species (30% endemics) and 2,380 vertebrate species of which there are 38 endemic species of mammals and 19 endemic species of birds... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

299 protected areas (6.3% of total land area), 11 Ramsar sites and 10 Biosphere reserves (Source: 2003 Earth Trends World Resources Institute Country Profile)

Percentage of Forest Cover

34% (Source: 2005 FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment) Monitoring reports are prepared on a continuous basis and available on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The general goals of Argentina’s National Biodiversity and Action Plan are to: guarantee the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources; reduce adverse effects of production activities on biological diversity; and the equitable sharing of benefits derived from the appropriate use of genetic resources. The NBSAP lays out, according to the themes of the 2010 Biodiversity Target, different objectives and actions for each thematic area... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

See information provided under National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The Federal System for Protected Areas (SIFAP) was recently created in 2003 and a coherent national action plan for the administration of protected areas is yet to be established. Overall, limited progress has been made in regard to this programme of work. Few measures have been taken to establish protected areas in large unfragmented natural areas and to address the under-representation of marine and inland water ecosystems in the existing national and regional systems... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

No legislation currently governs access to genetic resources although drafting a legislation in this regard has been initiated, with consideration being given to the CBD Bonn Guidelines in the preparation process. Some governmental organizations, such as the National Institute for Agricultural Technology, are exchanging genetic resources in accordance with the rules of certain international protocols... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Argentina’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan incorporates actions related to the participation of indigenous communities in activities to implement the Convention. Assistance has been provided to indigenous communities to facilitate the conduct of regional meetings, the development of conservation plans for wild species and identification of the potential benefits that can arise from them... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

S.E. Sra. María Fabiana Loguzzo	CBD Primary NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Dra. Cecilia Carmaran	GTI NFP
Dra. Maria Christina Maggese	GTI NFP
Dra. Visitación Conforti	GTI NFP
Dra. Fabiana del Carmen Cuezzo	GTI NFP
Dra. Mercedes Lizarralde de Grosso	GTI NFP
Ing. Agr. Carlos Alberto Cattaneo	CHM NFP
Ms. Inés Kasulín	SBSTTA NFP, GSPC NFP
Lic. Aida Gotlib	Protected Areas NFP
Dr. Fernando Omar Zuloaga	GTI NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

S.E. Sra. María Fabiana Loguzzo	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Sr. Andrés Frankow	BCH NFP