Located in the Boqueron Department, within the District of Mariscal Estigarribia and 740 km away from Asuncion, the area known as “Cañada El Carmen” has a surface area of 3,973 hectares declared as Natural Reserve by Law 2703/05, which categorizes it as a natural reserve. Article 6 of the same Law declares it as a Cultural Good under the protection of Law 946/82 on the PROTECTION OF CULTURAL GOODS as Transboundary Conservation Area, declared by the Ministry of Environment (SEAM) by Bylaw 1628/04.
“Cañada El Carmen” has a strategic location. It is adjacent to the Bolivian Protected Area—El Corbalan (4,778 hectares). It is administered by the non-governmental organization PROMETA. Both areas make up the Transboundary reserve, with a total of 8,751 hectares. Both also count on a binational Conservation Plan.
It must be noted that this is the first conservation area for dry forests for Paraguay’s western region. This zone is known for its biodiversity and its importance as a habitat for wildlife.
According to the Gran Chaco Ecoregional Assessment (TNC, 2005) the “Cañada El Carmen” Natural Reserve is located between two significant areas for biodiversity conservation known as “Hito II” and “the Pilcomayo Alluvial Plains”.
The area’s historical background is also of great importance, since it was the site of one of the most important battles of the Chaco War. Both natural and cultural resources are highlighted in this area, which is why it is important to conserve its historical richness and natural environment.
The “Cañada El Carmen” Area hosts ten natural communities:
1. Aspidosperma (quebracho blanco) and Chorisia insignis (samu’u) forests.
2. Schinopsis (quebracho colorado).
3. Dense Ruprechtia triflora (guami pire) and capparis forests with emerging Schinopsis.
4. Open and low Ruprechtia triflora (guami pire) forests.
5. Dense Ruprechtia triflora and Capparis forests.
6. Hydrophilic Forests.
7. Seasonal and permanent lagoons.
8. Bulnesia sarmientol (palo santo) and Tabebula nodosa (labon) forests.
9. Bare land.
10. Gorges.
The Rapid Ecologic Evaluation registered the presence of 41 species of mammals, belonging to 17 Families and 8 Orders. Taking into account the macromammals, who sum up to 27 species, the most represented Families are the Dasypodidae (armadillos) with 6 species, the Felidae (felines) with 5 species, the Tayassuidae (peccaries) with 3 species, Mustelidae (foxes) with 2 species, Canidae with 2 species and Cebidae (monkeys) with 2 species.
The Site Conservation Plan identified the following subjects focal conservation (Site Conservation Plan 2004-2009 IDEA—PROMETA)
● Catagonus wagneri: Also known as the Chaco Peccary (Ergueta and Morales, 1996) and as the Tagua in Paraguay, it belongs to the Mammalia Class, the Artiodactyla Order, the Tayassuidae. This species is highly social and is found in groups of up to 10 individuals. It lives in dry Chaco zones with predominant Xerophilous vegetation, quebrachos, palo santos, etc, and abundant Cactaceous shrubs, from where it extracts moisture reserves to subsist in arid zones without water. The Chaco Peccary is a threatened species and is included in CITES Appendix I. It is also listed as a threatened species in IUCN (Ergueta and Morales 1996). In Bolivia it is protected by the General Indefinite Prohibition Decree (D.S. 22641) since 1990.
● Tatu Carreta (Priodontes maximus): Also known as the Pejiche, Hairy Armadillo, Giant Tatu, Tatu Guazu or Tatu Canasta, it is a mammal of large dimensions. It is 1.5 to 1.6 meters long (including the tail) and weighs approximately 50 to 60kg. It is found in areas as varied as tropical forests and grasslands (Ergueta and Morales 1996), as well as in the Chaco forests, with Xerophilous vegetation (Clark and Encarnacao, 1983). It has crepuscular and night habits and tends to wander alone. It feeds on worms, ants, termites, insect larvae, small ophidians, snakes and carrion. The Priodontes maximus is listed in CITES Appendix I and is listed as Vulnerable in IUCN-1990 (Ergueta and Morales 1996). Under Bolivian legislation, it is protected by the General Indefinite Prohibition Decree (D.S. 22641) since 1990.
● Xerophilous forest: A vegetation type present in the conservation area. It was selected as a conservation subject due to the lack of information concerning its priority, size and representation within the site. It is characterized for being a low deciduous forest, with a 4-8m high canopy, dispersed regularly, occupying large extensions on drained soils in areas of inferior dry xeric bioclimate. This forest type has a preliminary list of 112 plant species, of which 20 belong to the arboreal stratus. The most outstanding species within the arboreal stratus are: the Quebracho Colorado (Schinopsis lorentzil), the Quebracho Blanco (Aspidiosperma quebracho-blanco) and the Palo Santo (Bulnesia sarmientoi) (Mendoza 1999), with the Schinopsis lorentzil being a forest species (Navarro y Maldonado, 2002).
● Bird community As for birds, 71 species were registered, belonging to 34 Families and 14 Orders. The most represented Families, in numbers of species are the Tyrannidae with 9 species, Emberizidae with 7 species, Picidae with 5 species, Furnariidae with 5 species, Ardeidae with 4 species, Accipitridae with 4 species, Psittacidae with 3 species and Columbidae with 3 species.
● Gorges: The gorge ecosystem is made up of streams, semi-permanent lagoons and associated vegetation.
The streams that are part of this system only transport water temporarily.
Semi-permanent lagoons, or “wells”, are of great ecological importance for the local fauna.
Associated vegetation include low to middle forest, with an irregular canopy of 8-12m high, which develop following seasonal flows in gorges.
Currently, the area’s Management Plan is in its final process, which will help consolidate the area so as to carry out an effective management.
We have also finalized the construction of a house for a park ranger and the administration, and also where visitors can go. The house has bathrooms for visitors, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a warehouse and an office.
As for the recreation area, it is made up of a camping area and a 2300m trail that leaves from the camping area to one of the gorge’s seasonal lagoons.
