The Southern Cone Mesopotamian savannas are located in the Misiones, Corrientes and Entre Rios provinces of northwestern Argentina. This ecoregion consists of a mosaic of habitats, including seasonally wet grasslands, marshes, woodland, and gallery forests. The grasslands are considered an Endemic Bird Area with three restricted-range species, two of which are threatened. The region is highly threatened due to destruction and degradation of the natural habitat by cattle ranching and agriculture. Overgrazing is one of the common problems in the area.
Description
Location and General Description
Biodiversity Features
Current Status
Types and Severity of Threats
Justification of Ecoregion Delineation
These flooded savannas of the Paraná and Paraguay River basins extend along lowland floodplains. Within Argentina the delineation’s for the Southern Cone Mesopotamian Savanna were derived from Daniele and Natenzon (1994), and linework follows their "Sabanas Mesopotámicas (mesopotamian savanna)" region. Other resources consulted include Cabrera (1976) and Morello (1968). Portions of this which extend into Brazil and Uruguay are incidental along the border. This region is important and distinct for its endemic species, including several birds (Stattersfield 1998).
References
Daniele, C., and C. Natenzon. 1994. Regiones Naturales de la Argentina. Draft map. Argentina National Parks Department, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Morello, J. 1968. La vegetación de la República Argentina, No. 10: Las grandes unidades de vegetación y ambiente del Chaco Argentino. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cabrera, A. L. 1976. Regiones fitogeográficas Argentinas. Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería, Second Edition, Vol. II, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Prepared by: Maria Zaccagnini
Reviewed by: In process