ANDEAN POLYLEPIS FORESTS INITIATIVE IN ARGENTINA

Executed by: NGO Ecosistemas Argentinos Civil Association

Calle 27 de abril 2050, City of Córdoba

WWW.ecosistemasarg.org.ar / ecosystemasarg@gmail.com

Members of the Andean Action Initiative in Argentina

Mountain actions

Daniel Renison: General Coordination and Quebrada de Los Refugios Area and new Santo Tomás Area.

Javier Sparacino: Executive Coordinator collaborating with reports, accounting, and help in the nursery and different areas.

Julio Domínguez: In charge of the Cerro Largo Reforestation Program and other areas.

Pablo Friedlander: Head of the Milking Clouds Project, Cerro Champaquí.

Ricardo Suárez: In charge of the Conservation and Reforestation Project of the Sierras de Córdoba, Los Cajones area.

Elisa Sosa: In charge of the coordination and planning jointly with the staff of the Quebrada del Condorito National Park and the Regional Directorate of the Administration Center of National Parks of Argentina.

The Andean Action Initiative of Polylepis Forests is a multi-year public-private initiative, which addresses a sustained and comprehensive approach to protect and repopulate the ecosystems where we find Polylepis forests, due to their irreplaceable contributions to the conservation of biodiversity, water regulation , the protection of soils, the retention of CO2, the mitigation of climate change and the support of rural and urban communities.

The trees of the genus Polylepis, grow only in the mountains of South America, are adapted to the conditions of life in the heights and do not thrive in low places. They grow up to 5,000 meters above sea level, being the highest tree formations in the world.

In order to protect the remnants of the Polylepis forests, which are estimated to have been reduced to only 3% of their potential extension and to expand the existing reforestation areas, this multinational project arises in which 6 South American countries participate: Colombia , Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Encouraging alliances between organizations for collaborative work in a common project for the Conservation of the Polylepis Montane Forests.

The main coordinating organizations of the Andean Action Initiative for Polylepis Forests are Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) based in Cusco Peru and Global Forest Generation (GFG) based in the United States. Both organizations promote this project, manage its financing and invite us to participate.

This initiative is committed to financing for five consecutive years the development of the project established in each country, renewing an annual agreement, subject to the rendering and compliance with what has been agreed in a timely manner by both parties. Promoting the growth of reforestation projects with Polylepis, seeking the support of governments for their strengthening and sustainability and the training of new leaders of environmental conservation projects for multiplication and long-term continuity.

The Andean Initiative in Argentina

Introduction

At present, few reforestation projects with Polylepis are known in Argentina, the most outstanding are those carried out and documented in the province of Córdoba. For this reason, the Polylepis Andean Forest Action Initiative recognizes and supports these projects, for their strengthening and continuity.

The Sierras Grandes together with the Sierras de los Comechigones are the main mountain range in the province of Córdoba. They rise almost 1000 meters above the surrounding mountain ranges and include the highest peaks that range between 2000 and 2900 meters above sea level. They are of great importance because most of the rivers of the province that provide water to more than two million people are born there.

Conserving and restoring the native forests of the Sierras Grandes is essential to maintain the spongy soil, favoring the proper functioning of the water basins, the filtering and retention of the rainwater that feeds the main rivers of the province.

Soils are rapidly being lost in many places in the Sierras Grandes. There is great erosion, evidenced by the formation of extensive areas of exposed rocks where there was previously soil, which currently only occupies 20% of its surface. The ditches produced by water erosion, called gullies, are abundant and reach depths that exceed two meters. Once produced, it is very difficult to stop their advance.

Soil erosion is the product of multiple causes, within which the lack of a protective plant cover plays a fundamental role. This fact is due to the cutting down of the native forests, overgrazing, the use of fire to produce the regrowth of the pastures, the compaction of the soil due to the trampling of cattle and people.

The gullies, formed by the erosion of rainwater running over the surface and frost, advance up to 20 cm per year. The soil that remains is so compacted by the footsteps of cattle that it has lost its ability to absorb rainwater. In addition, the layer of soil (organic matter) that covers the rocks, measures an average of 30cm deep, reaching 2m in some valleys. Which puts us on alert, since it is very easy to lose the little soil that covers the rocks. Without soil, we lose the biodiversity of the ecosystem, the possibility of CO2 retention and our main natural reservoir of water.

Background

In 1997, at the initiative of the Doctor in Biology Daniel Renison, the Reforestation and Conservation Project of the Sierras de Córdoba began today under the charge of the biologist director Ricardo Suarez in the Quebrada de los Refugios, Los Gigantes, Córdoba. Recognized in the present, as an example in restoration of high altitude forests. It is an area of 22 ha located around 2,280 meters above sea level, where more than 35,000 trees were planted, mainly examples of Polylepis australis, a predominant native tree in the place, known locally by the name of Tabaquillo.

This project made visible the problems of deforestation, soil erosion and the loss of biodiversity. And contribute to social awareness, through participation in volunteering, talks, publications in newspapers, magazines, documentaries, television, radio and social networks.

Over the years, new areas of conservation and reforestation emerged, with new managers. Cerro Largo, an area of approximately 300 hectares in charge of Julio Domínguez, where 20 hectares were wired and approximately 100,000 trees were planted. Cerro Champaquí (2511 masl) with Pablo Friedlander, a project that grew little by little and now covers an area of 700 hectares located in an altitudinal strip between 700 and 2800 masl, on the western slope of Cerro Champaquí. With a plantation that has already exceeded 17,500 trees. And Los Cajones (2320 masl), a property where 40 hectares were wired and since 2012 the biologist Ricardo Suárez has carried out reforestations within the framework of the Reforestation and Conservation Project of the Sierras de Cordoba.

In all cases, native species were used for reforestation, due to the benefits they represent and provide. The most relevant:

• They consume less water (on average) than exotic species. Data of vital importance for the delicate water system of the province of Córdoba.

• They capture the mist, acting as a network of leaves and branches where it condenses, increasing the water supply, that is, the amount of water captured by the mountains.

• They maintain the porosity of the soil, favoring the drainage and filtering of the water from the precipitations that feed the rivers and streams, contributing to a better quality of water and reducing the cost of its purification.

• They reduce soil erosion, preventing rain from impacting directly on the surface, dragging the soil down the slope. Its roots support the soil, slowing down the advance of the gullies, and its tops slow the speed of the wind, also reducing wind erosion.

• They produce new soils. They provide nutrients through the organic matter they generate, increasing their volume, quality and absorption capacity.

• They help reduce climate change. A large amount of atmospheric carbon is captured in forests and their soils, reducing the greenhouse effect.

• They help maintain the habitat of unique species. The Sierras Grandes have a very particular biota, there some 40 species have been identified that do not exist anywhere else in the world.

To carry out the Andean Action Initiative in Argentina in the 220 period, field tasks, construction of nurseries, fences, tree production and reforestation will be carried out in 5 areas:

Quebrada del Condorito National Park, by Elisa sosa

Santo Tomás, new area in charge of Daniel Renison

Cerro Largo and Potrero de jero and property of the Escuela Nuestra Señora del Valle Los Gigantes, in charge of Julio Domínguez

Cerro Champaquí, by Pablo Freidlander

Los Cajones, by Ricardo Suárez

Main objectives first period: August 2018 to July 2019

• Construction of 2 new nurseries and maintenance of 3 pre-existing nurseries.

• Purchase of the wiring materials for the new Santo Tomás area, a 40-hectare property, and its construction beginning in June 2019.

• Production and planting of 10,000 seedlings.

• Complementary research on the hydrological cycle in basins to be reforested and basins without reforestation.

• Field work to stop soil erosion.

• Maintenance of areas under restoration, fences, signage, trails and repair of erosion edges.

• Photographic records, documentation and dissemination of the progress of the project.

• Organization of volunteers to promote participation and social awareness about the importance of conserving montane forests.

• Promote the start of new reforestations in the Sierras de Córdoba by dictating the Serrana Ecological Restoration School of the Argentine Ecosystems Asociación Civil

• Promote the start of new reforestations in the north of Argentina by teaching a course on Ecological Restoration in the province of Salta. Objectives are almost entirely complete.

• In the second half of 2019, it was proposed to plant 50,000 goal almost met. (Waju has already fulfilled its commitment of 17,500 planted cigarettes.

• By 2020, it is hoped to continue growing in the number of tobacco planted. A total of 161,000 small trees is the new goal distributed in Area: Cerro Largo and Potrero de Jero: 50,000, in Area: Santo Tomas: 6,000, in Area Champaqui: 50,000, in Area: Post of Champaqui: 10,000, in Area: Los cajones : 50,000. we are all working together to meet this new goal.