Biotechnology and bioprospection of native species from monte desert Patagonia, as strategies for the development of the regional bioeconomy

PATRICIA BOERI; LUCRECIA PIÑUEL; IRINA LÓPEZ DUMRAUF; DANIELA DALZOTTO; INTI SABANES; SANDRA SHARRY

Conferencia; Fifth International Conference of the IUFRO Working Party 2.09.02; 2018

The dry-land surface (i.e. semi-arid and arid regions) cover approximately one-third of the world?s land area and are inhabited by almost 400 million people. During the last 50 years, there has been growing interest in the cause of desertification due to its impact on the global environment, economy and society. These ecosystems provide a series of ecological services essential for the sustainability of human life and the development of productive activities. In Argentina, the arid and semi-arid environments represent approximately one-third of the continental surface. Particularly, the Patagonia Argentina have 80% of surface containing any deterioration signs. At the Universidad de Rio Negrowe carried out an investigation about propagation and bioprospecting of native shrubs species from these ecosystems. The purpose of this work is to contribute to the body of knowledge of native this species from desert and semi-desert regions, particularly on their, in order to provide alternatives for conservation and sustainable use of these resources and to enable them to be included in ecological reforestation and restoration programs in degraded environments. The species studied were: Prosopis alpataco, Prosopis caldenia, Geoffroea decorticans, Acantholippia seriphioides, Condalia microphylla, Senecio sp, Larrea divaricata and Boungavillea spinosa. The species understudy have been systematically used as sources of energy, food or even medicinal use. This has exposed them to extractive type conditions, compromising their future availability, such as A. seriphioides, a species that is currently in danger of extinction. This project has allowed to generate knowledge about the propagation of the native flora of the arid and semiarid region, indispensable for the implementation of restoration strategies of degraded ecosystems and the ex situ conservation of these species. This work allowed us to expand the information base of Patagonian biodiversity, recover those threatened species and collaborate with the maintenance of regional biodiversity. Biodiversity is the basis of the bio-economy and the sustainable management of regional resources is a fundamental principle of the new circular economy paradigm. In this context, the development of the bio-resources area has become a strategic axis for thecountry, with a strong impact on the regional socio-economic and environmental areas.