Gómez S.E. & J.C. Chebez (1996):
Peces de la Provincia de Misiones.
Chapter 4, pages 38-70, 315-316
In:
Chebez, J.C. & M. Rumboll (eds.):
Fauna Misionera. Catálogo de los vertebrados de la Provincia de Misiones
318 pp., 28x21 cm
L.O.L.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina
spanish and english, paperback
1st. edition, ISBN10 950-9725-20-X, ISBN13 9789509725201
review:
This book, which in 1997 won the First Prize of the Fundación El Libro for the “Libro de Ecología, Medio Ambiente y Derecho Ambiental” in Argentina, demonstrates that conservation in Argentina is moving in the right direction. Juan Carlos Chebez, the author of this thick tome, has been in the forefront of this movement. An accomplished naturalist who spends much time in the field, he is also a lecturer and a writer of popular articles and an administrator within Argentina's National Park system. As he himself wrote in the Introduction, “Pongamos pronto manos a la obra, porque mientras tanto las topadoras, el fuego y las motosierras trabajan sin descansar.” Chebez does put his money where his mouth is, as shown by this annotated and illustrated catalog of the vertebrate species that are found in Misiones Province, a roughly rectangular area wedged between Paraguay to the northwest and Brazilian territory to the southeast. Sadly, this beautiful area is threatened by the greed of multinational companies that are hellbent on exploiting (and thereby destroying) its forest riches. A few figures will suffice. Originally 87% of Misiones was covered by forests. In 1974 the forested area covered only 42% of the province and three years later, in 1977, was down to 40%. At this rate, nearly complete destruction of the remaining forest cover and of its associated biodiversity would occur by about the year 2025. That this possibility is not far fetched can be verified by anyone traveling on the red dust roads of the region, where many huge trucks speed to carry the immense logs out of the area. The authorities will report that “reforestation” programs are under way. The truth of the matter, however, is that “replanted” trees are exotic pines, Pinus elliotti and Pinus taeda, under which the biodiversity of a rich subtropical community does not belong and does not establish itself. The text of the various chapters is presented on double pages with English on the left and Spanish on the right, thus permitting the book to reach a wide audience. The species accounts, on the whole very brief, nevertheless give a good idea of where each species occurs. A useful feature in a book meant as a tool for conservationists is the inclusion of several vernacular names for each species, especially in Guaraní, the native language of the area, and in Portuguese, spoken across the near-by boundary in Brazil. With such a wealth of information between its covers, I have no doubt that Chebez's book will accomplish its goals, which are to offer a baseline to the biodiversity of vertebrates in Misiones and to help promote an even stronger spirit of conservation locally, nationally, and internationally. |
