Abstract:
Exploration and mapping of alternative land uses suggest ways to foster territorial development pathways that can coexist with a forest cover. As the Pampas and Chaco are becoming one of the most relevant global grain suppliers of South America, the fast expansion of crops over pastures (Pampas) and dry forests (Chaco), ongoing climate changes, and extremely flat topography, make these regions vulnerable to rapid and non-linear hydrological shifts, including long-lasting floods and salinization processes. One possible outcome: coping with relatively salty groundwater could be a challenge in many areas of the Chaco in the coming decade.
