What are the Natural Resources of Paraguay?

The Natural resources of Paraguay Biodiversity, agriculture and livestock, mining, water resources and fisheries.

Paraguay is located in the central part of South America, specifically north of Argentina, southeast of Bolivia and southwest of Brazil. It has an area of ​​406,752 km2 of which 397,302 correspond to land and 9,450 km2 to rivers (CIA, 2016).

Its main natural resources are its rivers, wood, and minerals such as iron, gold, magnesium and limestone. While its main environmental problems are deforestation, loss of wetlands and water pollution caused by inadequate waste disposal methods (CIA, 2016).

Biodiversity

Paraguay's biodiversity is determined by its wide variety of ecosystems. It is estimated that around 100,000 species of invertebrates, 1336 vertebrates, 20,000 plant species, 250 fish species, 150 reptile species and 645-685 bird species (CBD, 2015) can be found in the country.

In addition, a total of 85 amphibian species have been recorded (Nunez, 2012) and 162 species of mammals of which 14 are marsupials, 11 species of armadillos, 49 species of bats, 5 species of primates, 4 canines, 8 felines, 5 species of mustelids, 3 species of wild boar, 5 species of deer and 50 species of rodents. (Yahnke et al., 1998)

In Paraguay, there are five large natural regions: dry chaco, wet chaco, pantanal, cerrado and upper Paraná forest (Figure 1).

In the Dry Chaco ecoregion, quebracho forests are common ( Schinopsis balansae ) With the presence of plant species such as samu'u ( Ceiba insignis ) And the holy wood ( Bulnesia sarmientoi ). In this region we find the lowest availability of water in the country (Naumann and Coronel, 2008).

In Chaco Humid we find a system of lagoons where it is possible to appreciate a great variety of water birds. The plant species and fauna are associated with karanday palmares ( Copernicia alba ). Currently, this biome is in danger due to the expansion of agricultural activity. (Salas, 2015).

The Cerrado ecoregion is found mainly in Brazil and in a small part of Paraguay. It includes the coexistence of savannas, fields and forests, in the same biome favoring one of the highest biological diversity indexes in the world (Aguiar et al, 2004).

The Atlantic Forest or Paraná Forest is considered one of the 25 regions of high biodiversity of the planet. However, it is also one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world as it retains only 7% of its original extent (CBD, 2003). Only in the period of 1973 and 2000 Paraguay lost almost two thirds of its Atlantic forest as a result of deforestation processes. (Huang et al, 2007).

The Pantanal ecoregion in Paraguay comprises a part of the world's largest wetland located in the center of South America between Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil with about 140,000 km2. Here we find a great diversity of fish as well as birds and aquatic plants. (Salas, 2015). The Pantanal has a natural regulatory effect on the discharge of the Paraguay River, one of the main rivers in South America (Quirós et al, 2007).

Figure 1. Ecoregions of Paraguay (Regiane and Vera, 2016)

Agriculture and Livestock in Paraguay

According to Gurmendi (2012), agriculture in Paraguay is one of the most economically important activities, contributing 14% to GDP. Agricultural areas comprise 53.8% of the country's area and the main products are cassava, soy, sugar cane, wheat, peanuts and cotton (Naumann and Coronel, 2008).

Paraguay is the center of origin of 13 cultivated species of cultural importance. These include: cassava ( Manihot esculenta), The sweet potato Ipomoea potatoes), The peanut (A Arachis hypogaea ), And pineapple (A Nanos comosus ) (CBD, 2003).

Cattle breeding for meat production represents the main livestock activity, with 9.8 million head (Naumann and Coronel, 2008). The most common breeds of cattle are: Criollo ( Bos taurus Cattle of Spanish descent), Cricket crossed with Hereford, and zebu crosses ( Bos indicus ) (Payne et al., 1990).

The sheep population of Paraguay is small compared to that of neighboring countries. Typically the sheep are kept in small herds, less than 200 animals. The total population of sheep is approximately 370,000 and, like the cattle population, is concentrated in the Eastern Region of the country (Maciel et al., 1996).

Mining

The mining sector in Paraguay is one of the least contributors to GDP with barely 0.1%. Paraguay's mineral resources include iron, steel clays, dolomite, gypsum, kaolin, limestone, magnesium, marble, semi-precious stones and petroleum derivatives. Bauxite, diamond, iron, natural gas, niobium, petroleum, rare earth, titanium and uranium deposits have also been explored (Gurmendi, 2012).

Water resources

The main source of groundwater is the Guaraní Aquifer, where 90% of the water is potable and in some places has tourism and energy potential, as the water can emerge at temperatures between 33 ° C and 50 ° C (Salas, 2015).

The Paraguay River divides the country into two broad regions, the western and the eastern regions (Figure 2). The western region in the northwest of the country is hot and dry, becoming more arid towards the Bolivian border; While the eastern region in the east is hot and humid. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1700 mm annually in the Eastern region to 400 mm annually in the Western region (Maciel et al, 1996).

The waterway is a navigation route within the Paraguay and Paraná rivers. It extends from the Port of Cáceres in Brazil, to the Port of Nueva Palmira in Uruguay, communicating the territories of the Mercosur countries and the Republic of Bolivia. This navigation route facilitates the integral development of the region, and serves as a means of transporting goods such as soy and its derivatives, cotton, sunflower, wheat, flax, iron ore, manganese and other industrial and agroindustrial products. (Munoz, 2012). However, this project implies a substantial impact on the hydrology and ecology of the Pantanal. (Gottgens, 2001).

Fishing

Within the Rivers of Paraguay there are over 400 species of fish registered. Fishing exploitation occurs lightly to moderate compared to other subtropical farms, and catches are mainly of small fish. However, about 15 species of large fish are the most valued by fishermen (Quirós, et al, 2007).

Figure 2. Rivers of Paraguay (/ ABC color)

References

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