Riacho Teuquito Biosphere Reserve

The Riacho Teuquito Biosphere Reserve is located in the Province of Formosa, in the Chaqueña Region, in the northeastern part of Argentina.

The total area of the Biosphere Reserve is approximately 81,000 ha (2,000,000 acres), of which 10,000 ha (24,700 acres) make up the core area, 18,000 ha (44,500 acres) make up the buffer zone and 63,000 ha (155,600 acres) make up the transition areas.

The Biosphere Reserve is covered by tropical jungles with a predominance of quebracho, a tannin-rich tree. It is also the refuge of endangered species, such as the anteater, the armadillo, and the yaguareté (national natural monument), etc.

The Riacho Teuquito Biosphere Reserve belongs to the Chaco biogeographical region with tropical dry or deciduous forests, dominated by Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco and Schinopsis lorentzii in the valleys, matorral scrublands and forests with matorral, flooded matorral, flooded savannas, agricultural systems and grazing forests.

Wetlands are also present, located mostly along rivers, providing a refuge for a wide range of species including migratory birds. The biosphere reserve has a rich and varied fauna that includes rare, threatened species.

More than 3,000 people live in the biosphere reserve, of which 350 form indigenous communities. The principal economic activities are agriculture, forestry, commerce, industry and cattle raising.

The transition area contains a development project with the objective of promoting sustainable use of natural resources, establishing pilot areas of productive models and harmonizing environmental, political, social, cultural and economic issues.