Chaco region: Forest loss and fragmentation in the context of the territorial planning law. Remote sensing assessment in Formosa, Argentina application case

Agricultural expansion is the primary cause of forest loss and fragmentation. It threatens conservation its biodiversity as well capability to provide ecosystem services. Land-use policies, such zonation programs, have been traditionally used a tool for promoting sustainable natural resource management; however, we still lack standardized methodologies that can be applied world-widely achieve this purpose. In current context rampant deforestation over tropical forests, there an urgent need identifying policies steer agricultural land-use change into reduced pressure on forests. This study focuses outcomes first territorial planning law in Province Formosa (Argentina) located within Chaco region, one world’s hotspots. The research questions were: a) How did agriculture expand before, during after enactment law? b) Did introduction affect spatial distribution change?; c) sanction fragmentation? Landsat imagery was map change, calculate cover rate considering zoning physiognomic classification law. fragmentation evaluated terms configuration, classified perforation or shrinkage, edge generation, patch size distribution, isolation. effect tested using difference model. After passed, observed designated zone; presented highest rates among categories zone predominantly made according which promoted generation. isolation between patches decreased changed towards less large-patch-centered pattern, indicating experiencing early process. Overall, succeeded relief forest, but highlighted incorporating configuration guidelines long-term conservation. case could useful design future management implies importance planning.