China’s growing economy presents new challenges for conservation in Latin America

AIDE, TM; GRAU, HR; GASPARRI, NI

Merida, Mexico

Congreso; Ecology in an Era of Globalization; 2006

Ecological Society of America

China’s large population and rapidly growing economy are interacting to alter land-use patterns and threaten biodiversity around the world. China’s population is expected to reach 1.45 billion by 2030, but the most important change in China has been the transition to an open-market economy.  In the last 15 years, the economy has grown on average by 8% per year. This unprecedented growth has created a large middle class with increasing purchasing power. For example, automobile production has increased from 700,000 in 1991 to 4.4 million in 2003, and it is expected to increase to approximately 10 million by 2010.  Another important impact has been the change in per capita caloric intact.  In 1961, China had the lowest per capita caloric intact (1630 cal) in Southeast Asia, but by 2002 they had the highest (2951 cal).  This increase of greater than 80% has been accompanied by a large increase in pork and poultry consumption.  To increase meat production, China has had to greatly increase grain imports, particularly soybeans.  Much of China’s soybean imports are produced in tropical dry ecosystems in South America.  Specifically, in Argentina more than 200,000 ha yr-1 of Chaco forest is being cleared for soybean production.  The combination of China’s continued need to import soybean, economic benefits for the Argentina economy (e.g. 20% export tax), and new soybean varieties that can grow in area of low rainfall is likely to lead to further deforestation.  We suggest that conservation efforts should focus on coordinating the inevitable agricultural expansion with the establishment of nature reserves in the extensive areas of Chaco forest