Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina
Abstract The Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13031 |
| _version_ | 1827767644547186688 |
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| author | Ulises Balza Ricardo Baldi Lucía Rodríguez‐Planes Ricardo Ojeda Adrián Schiavini |
| author_facet | Ulises Balza Ricardo Baldi Lucía Rodríguez‐Planes Ricardo Ojeda Adrián Schiavini |
| author_sort | Ulises Balza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This decision raises concerns about the technical and ethical aspects of the translocation. Firstly, there is a lack of proper evaluation and scientific evidence to support the need, opportunity, and feasibility of this translocation. The guanaco population is currently over one million and is increasing, and genetic differences exist among local populations. The translocation could produce anthropogenic‐driven admixed populations, leading to genetic swamping and disrupting evolutionary processes. Second, there are ethical conflicts around managing wild species populations that prioritize private objectives and disregard local, publicly funded science. Rewilding projects require a deep understanding of interacting ecosystem processes, and of the socio‐economic context. This management decision violates guiding principles for rewilding and should have followed proper scientific evaluation and transparent local consultation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:00:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a21d4f691e564bb3af156c770f6f7237 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:00:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-a21d4f691e564bb3af156c770f6f72372023-11-08T06:13:27ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542023-11-01511n/an/a10.1111/csp2.13031Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in ArgentinaUlises Balza0Ricardo Baldi1Lucía Rodríguez‐Planes2Ricardo Ojeda3Adrián Schiavini4Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC‐CONICET) Ushuaia ArgentinaInstituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC ‐ CONICET) Puerto Madryn ArgentinaDirección Regional Patagonia Austral Administración de Parques Nacionales Ushuaia ArgentinaLaboratorio de filogeografía, taxonomía integrativa y ecología (LFTIE) IADIZA, CCT‐CONICET Mendoza. Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín Mendoza ArgentinaCentro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC‐CONICET) Ushuaia ArgentinaAbstract The Argentinian Ministry of Environment has approved the translocation of 45 guanacos from Southern Patagonia to the Pampas region, a distance of 1500 km, as the initial phase toward future translocations into a National Park located in the Chaco region, another 1600 km further North. This decision raises concerns about the technical and ethical aspects of the translocation. Firstly, there is a lack of proper evaluation and scientific evidence to support the need, opportunity, and feasibility of this translocation. The guanaco population is currently over one million and is increasing, and genetic differences exist among local populations. The translocation could produce anthropogenic‐driven admixed populations, leading to genetic swamping and disrupting evolutionary processes. Second, there are ethical conflicts around managing wild species populations that prioritize private objectives and disregard local, publicly funded science. Rewilding projects require a deep understanding of interacting ecosystem processes, and of the socio‐economic context. This management decision violates guiding principles for rewilding and should have followed proper scientific evaluation and transparent local consultation.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13031camelidsethical concernsgenetic structurepublic fundingreintroduction |
| spellingShingle | Ulises Balza Ricardo Baldi Lucía Rodríguez‐Planes Ricardo Ojeda Adrián Schiavini Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina Conservation Science and Practice camelids ethical concerns genetic structure public funding reintroduction |
| title | Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina |
| title_full | Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina |
| title_short | Scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in Argentina |
| title_sort | scientific evidence does not support the translocation of guanacos in argentina |
| topic | camelids ethical concerns genetic structure public funding reintroduction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13031 |
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