Who Conserves the Forest?

Land use Comparison among Different Stakeholders in the Salta Chaco Region

Abstract

biodiversity loss, soil degradation, land concentration, and socio-environmental conflicts. These issues
have altered social relations and trigged competition for land use and control. The objective of this study
is to compare the degree of forest conservation and land-use patterns among large-scale land acquisitions
(LSLAs), indigenous communities, and small creole producers. To this end, a Forest Conservation Index
was developed that integrates native forest loss, land cover, and changes in the Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI), allowing conservation to be assessed and compared across stakeholders. The
results indicate that the LSLAs show greater deforestation, stable NDVI, and the lowest conservation index.
Creoles show an increase in NDVI and a higher index value, while indigenous communities show an
intermediate increase in NDVI and also in the conservation index value. The index proposed has limitations,
such as the lack of differentiation between natural and productive vegetation in the NDVI, the absence of
socioeconomic indicators, and the homogeneous consideration of stakeholder groups. These results help
guide territorial planning, the formulation of differentiated policies by stakeholder type, and the visibility
of land-use practices conducive to conservation and the sustainable management of native forests in the
Salta Chaco region.