Chaco forestry entrepreneurship opens market in China (sustainability, traceability, and foreign trade)

The project arises from the demand of producers in the area who sought to close the gap between the local value of palo santo (Bulnesia sarmientoi) and the international price. As it is a species included in the CITES Convention, each operation must comply with strict controls to ensure sustainable use. In Argentina, these verifications are handled by the National Forestry Directorate and its provincial counterpart. The core of the process is the Sustainable Management Plan, the preparation of which takes between two and three months. A detailed and georeferenced census of each specimen present in the lot is conducted there, differentiating the trees intended for harvesting from those that will remain as seedbeds. The latter, which represent 30% of the total volume, are selected for their vigor and health to ensure the natural regeneration of the forest. Once submitted, the plan must undergo an approval process that can extend over eight months due to the technical and ...