Nature in Paraguay

Paraguay has contrasting natural regions in the Región Oriental and Región Occidental. Under MADES Resolution 614/13, the national classification includes Aquidabán, Amambay, Alto Paraná, Selva Central, Litoral Central and Ñeembucú in the eastern region, and Médanos, Cerrado, Pantanal, Chaco Húmedo and Chaco Seco in the western region. The national ecoregion update remains under development, so some classifications and descriptions may be refined as the review progresses. Important natural systems include the Río Paraguay and Río Paraná basins, the Río Pilcomayo, Río Negro and Tebicuary, and the Acuífero Guaraní. Paraguay's wetland inventory identifies 22 regions. The Pantanal, Chaco Húmedo, Ñeembucú, Lago Ypoá and Tebicuary wetlands store water, reduce the effects of high and low water levels and support fish and bird diversity. Their condition also affects agriculture, livestock, fisheries, settlements and downstream water users. Áreas Silvestres Protegidas, abbreviated as ASP, include categories such as Parque Nacional, Monumento Natural, Reserva de Recursos Manejados and Reserva Natural. A protected area can be public, private, managed by an autonomous entity, or established at municipal or departmental level. Itaipu also manages its own protected areas. The Plan de Manejo for an area sets its boundaries, zones, permitted uses, conservation measures and buffer area, known locally as the zona de amortiguamiento. Ley 352/94 provides the legal framework for SINASIP, protected areas, management plans and buffer areas. MADES is Paraguay's national environmental authority. Its Dirección General de Protección y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Dirección de Áreas Silvestres Protegidas, Dirección de Vida Silvestre and Dirección de Recursos Hídricos have different responsibilities for protected-area oversight, biodiversity, wildlife, water management, monitoring and environmental education. Municipalities and departments can influence local protected areas and visitor access. The responsible body therefore depends on the area, ownership, category and activity. Paraguay's forests, savannas, dry forests and wetlands contain species such as jaguareté, aguará guasú, tirica and taguá, as well as threatened or endemic forest and wetland species. Wild birds and other species depend on connected habitats. The link between the Gran Chaco, Pantanal and Bosque Atlántico is relevant for species movement and migration. MADES updated its protected flora list through Resolution 512/2025 and its invasive-species list through Resolution 524/2025. These lists can affect conservation measures, handling and management decisions. Nature is used for conservation, water regulation, fishing, livestock, forestry, agriculture, research and wildlife observation. Use inside an ASP has to comply with national law, the category, the Plan de Manejo and any required permit. Construction, drainage, retaining walls, dams and other interventions may require an environmental impact assessment. Water management follows a basin perspective, and Consejos de Agua can provide a forum for dialogue between users and institutions when water use creates competing interests. Public protected areas are generally visitable when they are open and no management plan or official order restricts access. Opening times, roads, trails, camping, infrastructure, attractions and fees vary by site. MADES provides a park portal with location, access information, road conditions, natural values, attractions and current tariffs, but there is no single national price or universal right to enter every area. A private reserve follows the owner's access rules as well as its registration and management plan. Research, collection, extraction, wildlife transport, wildlife trade, export, import and other special uses may require authorization from MADES. Ley 96/92 protects wildlife, and hunting or transporting or trading wild fauna without express authorization is prohibited. Visitors and users also have to follow waste, fire, trail and local park rules. A permit for one activity does not automatically authorize a different activity or a different protected area. Flooding occurs repeatedly along rivers and wetlands. The Chaco and other parts of the Región Occidental face prolonged drought and water shortages. Dry periods, pasture burning, uncontrolled fires and discarded cigarettes increase the risk of forest and grassland fires. Climate change, habitat degradation and invasive species increase vulnerability. MADES handles ecological monitoring and prevention, while the Secretaría de Emergencia Nacional coordinates disaster and emergency response, which is a separate responsibility. Environmental education involves MADES, guardaparques, schools, communities and protected-area programs. The 2025–2030 strategic plan gives attention to education, monitoring, restoration, participation and sustainable tourism. Local activities can include school visits, visitor briefings, community participation and observation programs. Conservation conflicts commonly involve deforestation, habitat fragmentation, expansion of agriculture or livestock, illegal hunting, wildlife trade, road collisions, fires, invasive species, water extraction and drainage. Management plans, buffer zones, environmental assessment, MADES controls, water councils and, where crimes are suspected, the police and Ministerio Público provide different responses. Costs, access conditions and approval times depend on the specific protected area, owner, road, activity and application. A visitor should check current information with MADES or the responsible reserve instead of relying on an old tariff or a general assumption. Scientific, commercial and construction projects are not automatically authorized merely because the location is a protected area or because a similar activity is permitted elsewhere.