Annual Report 2023 UPM Forestal Oriental

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RESULTS OF THE HVCA MONITORING PLAN The biodiversity monitoring plan includes, but is not limited to, all the High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs) that make up the Network of Biodiversity Reserve Areas. The set of 27 indicators considered is grouped into three categories:

The management plan for Esteros y Algarrobales del Río Uruguay (EARU) area was developed together with Vida Silvestre Uruguay (Uruguayan wildlife) and approved by the Ministry of Environment. In 2023 a new deal was signed with Vida Silvestre Uruguay to implement the plan.

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Status of the grassland ecosystem (7 indicators)

Status of the forest ecosystem (6 indicators)

Biodiversity variety of species (14 indicators)

values. In 2023 more than half of the HCVAs ranged between Good and Very Good standards while measures are being taken in other areas to improve indicators. In 2023 we reached 70,042 hectares of Preserved Natural Areas which have the following main types of natural vegetation:

Each indicator has set ranges according to the status it is classified under, which can be Bad, Average, Good or Very Good. These indicators show the effectiveness of conservation measures in relation to biodiversity. There are specific indicators for certain areas, for example, the communities of Ctenomys rionegrensis (Tucutucu de

Río Negro) are evaluated only in those HCVAs where their presence has been confirmed. As a general criterion, we want at least 70% of indicators to range between Good and Very Good, while measures are established to improve, whenever possible, those that don’t meet meet these two

natural meadows, sandbank vegetation, riparian forests, Chaco Park forests, flat hill forests, blanqueales, palm groves, grasslands and wetlands. Some of these types are considered special either because they are receding, are relict, or harbour rare species or species with limited distribution in Uruguay.