Laguna Teniente Rojas Silva. 14/07/04; Boquerón; 8,470 ha. 22°38'S, 059°03'W. Private reserve. Part of the watershed of the Riacho Yakaré Sur in the Paraguayan Chaco, this lake alternates between freshwater and brackish conditions. It supports colonies of Southern cattail Typha dominguensis, Tropical duck-weed Pistia stratiotes and West Indian marsh grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis, amidst a landscape of xerophytic forest, subhumid forest, seasonally flooded shrubs and forests and savannah. The site hosts several endangered and protected species such as the greater Rhea Rhea americana, the Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba, the Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis, the Giant Brazilian Otter Pteronura brasiliensis and the Southern Three-Banded Armadillo Tolypeutes matacus. The indigenous shrub Lophocarpinia aculeatifolia and the Jacare Caiman yacare are other noteworthy species of the site. The area is part of a private estate whose owners are committed to wetland conservation. Small scaled agriculture and cattle ranching, as well as local hunting by indigenous people are the main human uses of the site, while its greatest threats are salinisation and desertification, which have already occurred in neighboring areas. The site designation was carried out with support of the NGO Fundación DeSdelChaco. Ramsar Site No. 1390. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Chaco Paraguayo