Coalition backs Espínola's bid to declare Médanos del Chaco National Park a national interest

Environmental organizations have rallied behind Paraguayan congressman Mauricio Espínola, endorsing his initiative to declare the Médanos del Chaco National Park a matter of national interest. This move seeks to safeguard the park's environmental, hydrological, historical, cultural, and territorial integrity against potential resource exploitation. The coalition's support comes after Espínola faced opposition from a rival faction within the ruling party regarding his proposal. The congressman's project is a non-binding declaration, but it aims to pressure the executive branch to ensure the park's preservation. The park, located between the Boquerón and Alto Paraguay departments, is currently protected by law as a wildlife reserve. However, a competing project led by congressman José Rodríguez aims to amend the existing law to allow for the exploration and exploitation of supposed hydrocarbons within the national park. Representatives from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Alter Vida, and Sobrevivencia Amigos de la Tierra – Paraguay, all members of the "Coalición por los bosques," met with Espínola to provide technical and documentary backing for his proposal. They highlighted the park's unique biodiversity, water resources, and indigenous populations, including uncontacted peoples, as reasons for its protection. The environmental groups also aim to have Rodríguez's project, which is reportedly opposed even by the government's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Mades), archived.