“The Gold Red: development and crisis of the forest exploitation in “Gran Chaco”, Argentine (190-1950)”.

ZARRILLI ADRIAN GUSTAVO

Woodland Cultures in Time and Space: tales from the past, messages for the future

IUFRO - Embrio Publications

Lugar: Atenas; Año: 2010; p. 114 - 123

The principal object of environmental history is to deepen our understanding of how humans have been affected by their natural environment in the past and also how they affected that environment and with what results. In this paper the principal purpose is analyse from a environmental history perspective the process of exploitation of the argentinean forest resources, specifically in the “Gran Chaco” region, in the context of its incorporation to the capitalist market. This development is a complex and heterogeneous process in which numerous causes can be found. A specific environmental problem is present at each stage, partly a product of the way in which resources were used as well as eventually of the project of Nation intended to be carried out. Ecological destruction, overexploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation were part of the process our natural forest had to undergo so as to become a member of the world market, through the development of forestry industry. This paper investigates the evolution of forest exploitation in Argentina between 1880 to 1950.