Nature vs. Territory: Contradictions of Uruguayan Protected Area Policy

The still recent policy of environment protection in Uruguay run against contradictions due to the inadequate taking in acompt of ecological and territorial characteristics of the country. The diversity of protection status, the confusion among the public actors, the crumbling of the protected areas emphasize the difficulties of the actual process. The international criterion of "Nature" protection can't fit with a territory characterised by the importance of extensive stock-farming and large ownership, except by the withdrawal of more than 80 % of the national territory.