Ministry of the Environment promotes initiative for the conservation of Palo Santo in the Paraguayan Chaco

Asuncion, IP Agency.- With the aim of evaluating the current state of Palo Santo (Gonopterodendron sarmientoi), a valuable species recognized for its aromatic wood and traditional uses, technicians from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Mades) carried out reconnaissance work and identified sites for the installation of forest monitoring plots.

The work is being carried out on the property of the Chortitzer Cooperative Ltda., located in the Department of Boquerón.

The activities are carried out within the framework of the development of the Palo Santo Management Plan, which seeks to guarantee its conservation and sustainable use by carrying out a detailed inventory, habitat analysis and regulating harvesting.

In addition, restoration and ongoing monitoring programmes will be implemented, along with education and awareness initiatives targeting local communities.

This work will continue to be carried out jointly between officials from the Directorate of Wildlife – Department of Flora, and technical professionals from the Directorate of Biological Research of the National Museum of Natural History of Paraguay – Department of Botany, dependent on the General Directorate of Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (DGPCB) of MADES.