THE CONSERVATION OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN PARAGUAY

摘要

In Paraguay, the disappearance of forests, and thus of forest genetic resources, is alarming. The eastern region of the country, which is inhabited by 95 % of the population, is particularly affected. Here crop and livestock farming prevail and are cutting into the forests and advancing steadily onto potential forest soils. This is also true, although to a lesser extent, in the western part of the country known as the Chaco. Given that foreign earnings are almost exclusively derived from agriculturalexports, that 47 % of the working population are dependent on agriculture, and that 95 % of the land in Paraguay is privately owned, it is not difficult to predict that the primary forests will disappear in the near future, particularly in eastern Paraguay where clearing is occurring at a rapid pace. Outdated laws favour agrarian reform which promotes the clearing of forests even on potential forest soils. In the long term, hope for the conservation of the forests, and thus also of forest genetic resources, rests with the recently established and active forestry service, the preparation of an inventory of land use practices, the classification of the country into ecological regions, tertiary education in forestry, and the call for a balanced environmental policy.