Paraguay Submits Updated Management Plans for Chaco Biosphere Reserve to UNESCO
Paraguay has submitted updated management and zoning documentation for the Chaco Biosphere Reserve to UNESCO, meeting a September 2026 deadline. The reserve, which spans approximately 7.5 million hectares, faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching. These activities have raised concerns regarding the protection of the ancestral territory of the Indigenous Ayoreo, including groups living in voluntary isolation. While the government has provided the requested information, details of the submission remain undisclosed as UNESCO conducts an internal review process expected to conclude in 2027.
Key points
- Paraguay met the September 2026 deadline to submit updated management plans for the Chaco Biosphere Reserve to UNESCO.
- The reserve covers 7.5 million hectares of tropical dry forest, much of which has been cleared for farming and cattle ranching.
- The area is home to the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, the last uncontacted Indigenous group in South America outside the Amazon.
- Critics allege that existing environmental regulations within the reserve are only selectively enforced.
- UNESCO will review the submission, with further details expected to be released in 2027.
What happened
Paraguay has submitted updated information regarding the management and zoning of the Chaco Biosphere Reserve to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The submission was made by the end of September 2026, adhering to a deadline set by the organization's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program.
The MAB Program had requested these updates in 2023, specifically asking for clearly defined buffer and transition zones that account for all stakeholders, including Indigenous communities. Neither Paraguayan officials nor UNESCO representatives have released the specific contents of the submitted documents, with UNESCO indicating that information may become available following an internal review in 2027.
Context
The Chaco Biosphere Reserve, established in 2001 and expanded in 2011, encompasses 7.5 million hectares of the Gran Chaco. Over the past two decades, large portions of this biome have been deforested to accommodate farming and cattle ranching. The region serves as the ancestral territory for the Ayoreo, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, who live in voluntary isolation and are considered highly vulnerable to diseases introduced by encroaching human activity.
While private property is permitted within the reserve, it is subject to strict clearing regulations. However, observers such as Miguel Ángel Alarcón of the nonprofit Iniciativa Amotocodie have characterized the reserve as a designation that lacks effective regulation or control over human activity, alleging that enforcement is often selective.
What's next
UNESCO is currently conducting an internal review of the submitted documentation. The future status of the reserve will be determined based on the effectiveness of the proposed management strategies, the inclusion of stakeholders, and the alignment of these plans with MAB criteria. Further updates are anticipated in 2027.
Why it matters
The Chaco Biosphere Reserve is a critical biodiversity hotspot and the last refuge for uncontacted Indigenous groups in the region. The effectiveness of its governance directly impacts both environmental conservation efforts and the survival of vulnerable populations facing habitat loss.
