A global context for the evolution and current status of protected areas in Argentina

Argentina was the third country in the Americas to establish a protected natural area by 1904. More than 200 protected areas currently encompass 5% of the land area of the country. We show that the evolution of objectives, management and policy issues, and financial and other constraints related to Argentina's protected areas followed global scientific and social trends of the last century. Main features of both global and local trends were a shift in objectives from protecting scenic beauty and offering recreation opportunities toward considering an array of new ecological goods and services, the integration of local native populations and other stakeholders in planning and conservation tasks, an increased and potentially negative impact of uncontrolled use for tourism and recreation, and a pervasive lack of funds that severely hinders both planning and management. Current increasing involvement of nongovernmental organizations and the private sector may have potential short-term benefits for the protection of natural areas. However, this will also introduce additional complexity to the valuation of ecological goods and services provided by protected natural areas. Adequate valuing of goods and services emerges as a key issue in the task of striking a balance between economic interest and long-term conservation.