Prioritizing Areas for Primate Conservation in Argentina

Argentina lies within the southernmost distributional range of five neotropical primates, brown howler monkey Alouatta guariba, black-and-gold caraya, black-horned capuchin Sapajus nigritus, Azara’s cay, and owl Aotus azarae; first three which are globally threatened. These species occupy different ecoregions: Alto Paraná Atlantic forest, Araucaria moist humid Chaco, Southern Cone Mesopotamian savanna, Ffooded Andean Yungas. The recently approved National Primate Conservation Plan calls for identifying priority areas to focus conservation actions these species. We used distribution models estimate ranges then Zonation software perform a spatial prioritization analysis based on primate habitat quality connectivity identify potential importance at national ecoregional levels. Only 7.2% (19,500 km2) area inhabited by primates in is under protection. Outside current protected areas, top-ranked 1% 5% identified our covered 1894 7574 km2, respectively. top were forest Misiones province, where S. A. caraya distributed, portion eastern Chaco Formosa provinces, azarae present. included portions Yungas, cay only Priority provinces particularly relevant because paucity high deforestation rate. endangered guariba population will benefit from better protection Misiones. proposed herein, considered context broad participatory process involving stakeholders local people, help guide new innovative policies practices while supporting management objectives.