Linking species distribution and territorial planning to the management of the endangered Gonopterodendron sarmientoi in native forests of the Chaco region, Argentina

• Published in: Journal for nature conservation Vol. 68; p. 126220
• Main Authors: Luis Peri, Pablo, Gaitán, Juan, Loto, Dante, Kees, Sebastián, Azcona, Maximiliano, De Tellería, Santiago, Teich, Ingrid, Manghi, Eduardo, Andrés Camps, Gonzalo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Argentina; CITES; climate; decision making; deforestation; El Gran Chaco; Forest management; forests; geographical distribution; habitats; land use; Land use change; natural resources conservation; Species conservation; Species diversity distribution; temperature; topography; trees; El Gran Chaco; Argentina; Species diversity distribution; Forest management; Species conservation; Land use change; CITES
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126220
• ISSN: 1617-1381

•The spatial distribution of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi, an endangered tree species of the Dry Chaco, was determined.•G. sarmientoi’s habitat was mainly influenced by precipitation.•The current distribution map of G. sarmientoi provides a tool for effective management and conservation strategies.•The map assist decision-makers to adjust the Territorial Planning of the Native Forests in Chaco region. For management and conservation strategies in the long term is necessary to know the species distribution and main biophysical aspects that determine the structure and dynamics of the forest. The aim of this work was to determine the potential and current spatial distribution of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi, an emblematic and endangered tree species of the Dry Chaco. A further aim was to superimpose the distribution of G. sarmientoi, with the zonation in the current Territorial Planning of Native Forests (OTBN, its acronym in Spanish) to provide basic information for conservation and management of the species. For this, a Maxent model was developed to quantify the relationship between G. sarmientoi occurrence and key environmental variables (including water, topography, and climate as a variables). G. sarmientoi’s habitat was mainly influenced by precipitation variables, and secondarily by temperature variables. Considering the OTBN defined by the local forest authority, of the current area of G. sarmientoi (2,477,009 ha), the majority (57.9%) corresponded to the yellow category (forest areas with medium conservation value) and only 10.6% to the red category (high conservation value). It is important to note that around 600,686 ha (24.3%) of native forest with G. sarmientoi is in the green category (low conservation value) subject to change in land use, and 178,107 ha was uncategorized forest (7.2%). For effective management and conservation strategies, the current habitat distribution map of G. sarmientoi provides decision-makers an opportunity to review and adjust the native forests zoning at a provincial scale within the framework of the OTBN, mainly the green category (legal deforestation) with the occurrence of the endangered G. sarmientoi.