Management of Protected Wildlife Areas

From this year on, Tapytá Reserve has a Management Plan (2006-2010) in agreement with what is established by SEAM. The principal strategic objectives in the short term (five years) are:

  1. Promote scientific research in the RNPT at a national and international level.
  2. Increase the quality of life of the adjacent populations.
  3. Create and consolidate strategic alliances to act in different fields, and consolidate the institutional presence of the MBF in the zone.
  4. Create environmental consciousness. Environmental Education.
  5. Form the biological corridor between the Caaguazú (to the north) and San Rafael (to the south) National Parks.
  6. Carry out actions aimed at effective management of the RNPT to assure the permanence of its biodiversity and the functionality of the ecological processes.

The Reserve was zoned in the following manner:
Sustainable production zone, Restoration and recuperation zone,
Services zone, Managed wildlife zone, and Restricted use wildlife zone. According to the reserve’s management Plan, the buffer zone covers 27,000 hectares, corresponding to the nearby localities. The reserve has basic infrastructure, administrative headquarters, outlying control post, and interpretive paths. Forest Rangers have been trained for maintenance, control, vigilance, and public attention jobs. They have at their disposal uniforms, all-terrain vehicles, and motorcycles, security implements for carrying out patrols throughout the entire area. They also carry out environmental education and extension jobs in the neighboring communities in coordination with other departments. The Administration has the faculty of admission of visitors. In cases of scientific research, the MBF has specific regulations.



Forest Crops
Presently, the former property of Forestal Yguazu is divided in two parts, one of which constitutes Tapyta Nature Reserve, of 4,376 hectares, and the other, which maintains its previous name: Forestal Yguazu, 7,575 hectares.

The productive activity of the business Forestal Yguazu comprises the tasks of forestation (forest crops in savanna areas) and reforestation (crops in deforested areas). The crops are not considered part of the Reserve. The objective is to reach 4,000 hectares of forest plantations (in Tapyta and other properties in Hernandarias). In Tapyta alone, a harvest of 220,000 cubic meters of wood is planned beginning in 2007, for which high technology is utilized. The principal species cultivated is Eucalyptus grandis, though other native species are being experimented with, like Tabebuia sp. (lapacho), Cedrela fissilis (cedro), and Peltophorum dubium (ybyra pyta). All the cultivation includes environmental impact studies approved by the Office of Environmental Regulation. In short, it is a secure, sustainable investment that respects the environment and offers an important source of employment to the neighboring population.