2023-05-04T13:11:58.897345

2024-10-04T16:27:53.164113

30 x 30m

Argentina

Annual

The OTBN is composed of 23 shapefiles, each corresponding to one of the 23 provinces of Argentina. Each province is responsible for updating their OTBN data every 5 years, as established in [the legal article](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/resolucion_no_236_-_anexo_i_-_pautas_metodologicas_para_las_actualizaciones_de_los_otnb_-_2012_2.pdf) To obtain the most up to date OTBN shapefiles, it is necessary to make an official request to the Argentina Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development via their [online portal](http://snmb.ambiente.gob.ar/develop/). Once approved, the office responsible will send the proper data documentation, methods used, and a shapefile for each of the 23 provinces in a zip file.

Ordenamiento Territorial de Bosques Nativos

[Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible](https://snmb.ambiente.gob.ar)

Not for commercial use

Native Forest Classification<br>According to the Constitution of Argentina, the management of natural resources is under the jurisdiction of each individual province, but these must abide by minimum standards defined at the national level. With the purpose of protecting forested landscapes, in 2007, Argentina enacted the National Law N. 26.331 on Minimum Standards of Environmental Protections of Native Forests. This piece of legislation proposes the Territorial Planning of Native Forests (OTBN by its Spanish acronym) as the central tool of forest management. <br>This legislation defines native forests as “all natural forest ecosystems composed predominantly by mature trees of native species, with diverse associated flora and fauna, and their respective environmental components – soil, subsoil, hydric system, atmospheric system – which together form an interdependent system with unique characteristics and multiple functions, which in its natural state is in a dynamic equilibrium and that offers diverse ecosystem services in addition to a diverse set of natural resources for economic use. This definition considers both primary native forests, where there has been no human intervention, as well as secondary forests, forest systems formed after deforestation events, as well as those resulting from restauration activities.”<br>This definition of native forests includes forest ecosystems in different stages of development. Additionally, palm groves are also considered native forests. The following terms are defined as:<br>a) Native mature tree species: A woody plant species native to its respective region with a central trunk that branches out above the ground.<br><br>The 230/12 Resolution of the COFEMA, which defines the guidelines for the consideration, identification, and mapping of native forests for the OTBN, states:<br>Observation # 1.1: Within this definition and mapping of native forest land cover classes that were non-forested were included due to the functional interdependency they have with forested ecosystems, as well as their function as buffer areas, and/or because they provide ecosystem services like those of a native forest.<br>Guideline # 1.1: Use the definition of forest presented in Law N° 26.331 and its regulatory decree to identify and exclude from the OTBN land classes of non-forested vegetation. <br>Guideline # 1.2: The thresholds of minimum size, height and tree cover that determine a native forest are:<br>• 0.5 hectares of continuous forested land<br>• 3m in height<br>• 20% tree canopy cover.<br>Article 6 of the 26.331 Law determines that each province must realize their own implementation of OTBN guidelines via a democratic process that assigns native forests within their territory into a conservation category: <br>- **Category I (Red)**: Very high conservation value. These lands must not be transformed. The use of these lands is limited to being indigenous community territories and areas of scientific research. These zones may undergo activities such as maintenance, protection, data recollection, and others that do not later their intrinsic characteristics. This includes sustainable tourism activities, which must be carried out under Conservation Plans. Additionally, these zones could be targets of ecological restauration programs when faced with natural or human-caused disturbances. <br>- **Category II (Yellow)**: Median conservation value zones, that, although might have some degradation, can have high conservation value with the implementation of restauration activities. Their use is limited to sustainable resource management, tourism, data recollection and scientific research. Deforestation activities are not permitted.<br>- **Category III (Green)**: These are zones of low conservation value that can be partially or completely transformed in line with the standards of this legislation.<br>Uncategorized forests: Within this category are forested lands that do not fall into any of the classifications above. As a general rule, deforestation must be avoided in these areas, unless there is proper authorization. <br>According to what is established in articles 16 and 17 of the Law 26.331, and article 9 of its regulatory decree 91/09, all intervention in native forests must be backed by a detailed planification of all activities under development. This planification must be include a sustainable resource management plan, conservation plan, and plans for the management and conservation of a land category, or plans for land use change. The potential of developing different types of plans depends on the conservation categories assigned to native forests.

Displays Argentine forests by OTBN category (Territorial Planning of Native Forests)

- The original data, provided as vector shapefile data, was rasterized to 30 m for visualization purposes. Raster data sets are made up of a grid of square pixels, while vector data is made up of lines and curves (or paths). For more information, [see this guide](http://gif.berkeley.edu/documents/GIS_Data_Formats.pdf).<br>- Shapefile data is provided by the 23 provinces, as each is responsible for carrying out an update of OTBN areas (5 years). Please refer to the respective provincial agency for inquiries regarding data quality or future updates.<br>Full methodology is available in the citation below<br>

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