Environmentalists are sounding the alarm over deforestation in Paraguay's Gran Chaco, one of South America's last climate-critical forests. A recent report from Global Witness highlights that major meat companies are responsible for the clearance of over 75,000 hectares of forest since 2021, a loss equivalent to the size of New York City.
The report links this destruction to Rousselot, a leading collagen manufacturer, which has sourced cattle hides from suppliers implicated in deforestation. The Gran Chaco, crucial for biodiversity and climate change mitigation, is home to over 20 Indigenous groups, including the Ayoreo Totobiegosode, whose ancestral lands are under threat.
Despite Paraguay's recognition of these lands as protected since 2001, illegal ranching continues, exacerbated by weak environmental regulations. A proposed delay to the EU's anti-deforestation regulation could further jeopardize these ecosystems, allowing unchecked exploitation of the Gran Chaco.
Experts warn that if current deforestation trends persist, the Gran Chaco could be entirely devastated by 2080, endangering its unique wildlife and Indigenous populations. Activists emphasize the urgent need for action to protect this vital region and its inhabitants.