Patagonian Steppe

The ecoregion covers a large area, with estimates of its size ranging from 400,000 square kilometers to 800,000 square kilometers depending on the classification boundaries used. It is characterized by a rain shadow effect created by the Andes Mountains, which results in low annual precipitation, often averaging less than 200 millimeters per year in many areas. The landscape is a mosaic of plateaus, plains, and river valleys, featuring vegetation dominated by drought-resistant grasses and cushion shrubs, such as those in the Festuca and Mulinum genera. This ecosystem is home to specialized wildlife, including the guanaco, the puma, and the endangered huemul, or South Andean deer. The region also exhibits high levels of plant endemism, with over 1,500 vascular plant species, many of which are highly adapted to survive the region's strong winds, rocky soils, and frequent frosts. These plants provide essential structure and habitat for a variety of smaller animals and birds. Sheep grazing has been a primary economic activity in the region for decades and is widely identified as the main driver of desertification. Overgrazing reduces the cover of preferred native grasses and increases the amount of bare soil, which leads to soil erosion and a decline in organic carbon and nitrogen pools. Some studies have indicated that sheep population densities in parts of the Argentine Patagonia have reached as much as 73 percent above the land's carrying capacity. Estimates suggest that between 19 and 35 percent of the region's rangelands have been transformed into deserts. Conservation efforts are currently focused on promoting sustainable grazing practices and expanding protected areas. Formal protection remains limited, with some estimates indicating that only about 3 percent of the region is covered by protected areas. Initiatives are underway to coordinate transboundary conservation strategies between Argentina and Chile, aiming to balance the economic needs of local ranchers with the necessity of preserving the steppe's ecological integrity, carbon storage capacity, and biodiversity.