AGP Executive Report

Climate and Health: Paraguay is one of only five countries with a target to cut black carbon in its climate plan, according to a new global scorecard linking climate action with public health. Grasslands: A new study warns that declining plant diversity could reduce grassland carbon uptake by as much as 50% in some regions, including Paraguay, underscoring the value of protecting native plant communities. Floods and Extreme Weather: Paraná River flooding forced the evacuation of about 100 families in Ciudad del Este after heavy rain. In nearby Argentina, rising Iguazú River levels briefly closed access to the falls; authorities cited El Niño-linked rainfall. Chaco Reserve: Paraguay submitted updated information to UNESCO on the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens ecosystems and Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode in voluntary isolation.

Grassland Carbon: New research warns that declining plant diversity could cut grassland carbon uptake by mid-century, with losses reaching 50% in some regions, including Paraguay. Flood Response: Paraná River flooding after heavy rain forced the evacuation of about 100 families in Ciudad del Este. Officials warned more rain was expected, as residents called for lasting solutions to the neighborhood’s recurring flood risk. El Niño and Rivers: Rising water levels prompted a temporary closure of Iguazú Falls in Argentina; the Paraná’s flow near the Paraguayan border was also well above historical averages. Chaco Reserve: Paraguay submitted updated information to the UN on the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where expanding farming and cattle ranching threaten forests and Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo living in voluntary isolation.

Paraná Flooding: Rising waters forced the evacuation of about 100 families from Ciudad del Este’s San Rafael neighborhood. Authorities moved residents to a chapel and sports centre as heavy rain continued; locals are calling for lasting protection from recurring floods. El Niño Swells Rivers: The Iguazú Falls tourist area briefly closed after river flows surged to more than six times average. The Paraná River, along Paraguay’s border, also ran well above historical levels, with more rain forecast. Chaco Protection: Paraguay submitted updated information to the UN on management of the 7.5-million-hectare Chaco Biosphere Reserve. Deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens the dry forest and Indigenous Ayoreo communities, including people living in voluntary isolation. Extreme Weather: A recent hailstorm brought stones as large as a fist to Asunción and nearby cities, damaging roofs and vehicles. Meteorologists cited intense heat, humidity and El Niño as contributing factors.**

National Parks: Ybycuí National Park’s Atlantic Forest trails and waterfalls share the landscape with La Rosada, a 19th-century iron foundry, highlighting the park’s blend of biodiversity and industrial history. Severe Weather: After destructive thunderstorms damaged homes and property, the UAE announced emergency aid for affected Paraguayan families. The storms follow giant hail in Asunción and Central Department, where stones reportedly reached up to 12 centimetres; meteorologists cited extreme heat, humidity and El Niño conditions. Chaco Reserve: Paraguay submitted updated information to the UN on the 7.5-million-hectare Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where agricultural expansion and cattle ranching drive deforestation and threaten Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode in voluntary isolation. Climate Monitoring: A planned monitoring system for the Paraguay-Brazil Bioceanic Bridge could add climate data collection at a key border crossing. Field Research: A team working in Paraguay’s wilderness is tracking how bones change after reaching the ground, research that may help explain how fossils form.

Storm Relief: The UAE has pledged urgent aid for families whose homes and property were damaged by severe thunderstorms in Paraguay. Chaco Reserve: Paraguay met a UN deadline to submit updated information on the 7.5-million-hectare biosphere reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle threatens forests and Indigenous Ayoreo communities. UNESCO is monitoring whether protection plans are put into practice. Extreme Weather: A recent storm brought hailstones up to 12 centimetres across to Asunción and Central Department, damaging roofs and vehicles. Paraguay’s meteorology service cited extreme heat, humidity and El Niño as factors. Climate Monitoring: The Paraguay–Brazil Bioceanic Bridge is set to receive a climate monitoring system, adding weather data capacity at a key border crossing.

Storm Recovery: The UAE has announced emergency aid for families whose homes and property were damaged by severe thunderstorms in Paraguay. Earlier reports linked the giant hail that struck Asunción and nearby areas to extreme heat, humidity and El Niño conditions. Chaco Protection: Paraguay met UNESCO’s deadline to provide updated information on the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, who live in voluntary isolation. Climate Monitoring: The new Bioceanic Bridge between Paraguay and Brazil will have weather stations tracking wind, rainfall and temperature, adding data to help assess how conditions affect the structure.

Storm Relief: The UAE has announced emergency aid for families affected by severe storms in Paraguay. The country’s recent giant-hail outbreak damaged homes and vehicles and caused power outages; meteorologists cited extreme heat, humidity and El Niño. Chaco Protection: Paraguay submitted updated management information to UNESCO for the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode living in voluntary isolation. Climate Monitoring: Two weather stations planned for the Paraguay–Brazil Bioceanic Bridge will track wind, rainfall and temperature, adding to sensors monitoring the structure’s condition.

Storm Relief: The UAE has announced emergency aid for families whose homes and belongings were damaged by severe thunderstorms in Paraguay. The storms follow the devastating hail that hit Asunción and Central Department on October 3, with meteorologists citing extreme heat, humidity and El Niño conditions. Chaco Reserve: Paraguay has submitted updated management information to UNESCO for the 7.5-million-hectare biosphere reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens Indigenous communities, including the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode living in voluntary isolation. Climate Risks: The World Bank warns that Paraguay could face heavy economic losses as El Niño strengthens. Bridge Monitoring: Two weather stations planned for the Paraguay-Brazil Bioceanic Bridge will record rainfall, temperature and wind, helping engineers assess how weather affects the structure.

Chaco Protection: Paraguay met a UN deadline to submit updated information on the 7.5-million-hectare Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where deforestation for farming and cattle ranching threatens Indigenous communities, including the isolated Ayoreo-Totobiegosode. UNESCO is monitoring the reserve’s management and zoning. Storm Recovery: The UAE has announced emergency aid for families affected by severe storms that damaged homes and property across Paraguay. El Niño Risks: The World Bank warns Paraguay could face significant economic losses from El Niño, as the region braces for extreme weather. Climate Monitoring: The new Bioceanic Bridge between Paraguay and Brazil will track wind, rain and temperature, with a future alert system planned for conditions that could affect traffic safety.

Climate and Infrastructure: Paraguay-Brazil’s Bioceanic Bridge will get weather stations to track temperature, rainfall and wind, with vehicle-safety alerts planned for a later phase. Extreme Weather: Tennis-ball-sized hail battered Asunción and nearby areas, damaging homes and cars and cutting power. Paraguay’s meteorological service linked the storm to extreme heat, humidity and El Niño; more storms were forecast. El Niño Risks: The World Bank warned that Paraguay could face significant economic losses from El Niño, though less severe than Ecuador’s. Wildlife and Forests: Ñacunday National Park protects a stretch of Atlantic Forest, river habitat and the 40-metre Salto Ñacunday waterfall.

Severe Weather: Giant hailstones battered Asunción and nearby Central Department communities, damaging homes and vehicles and cutting power. Paraguay’s meteorology chief linked the unusually large hail to heat, humidity and El Niño; more storms were forecast. Climate Risks: The World Bank warns that El Niño could bring Paraguay significant economic losses, though less severe than Ecuador’s. Infrastructure Monitoring: Two weather stations planned for the Bioceanic Bridge between Paraguay and Brazil will track temperature, rainfall and wind, helping engineers assess the structure’s response to weather. Wildlife and Forests: Ñacunday National Park protects nearly 2,000 hectares of forest in Alto Paraná, including a remaining fragment of Atlantic Forest and the 40-metre Salto Ñacunday waterfall. Public Health: A newly discovered hantavirus species in Paraguay is drawing attention to the risks of fieldwork around rodents and the need for continued research.

Extreme Weather: Paraguay’s meteorology service links Asunción’s giant hail to extreme heat, humidity and El Niño. Stones reached up to 10–12 centimetres, damaging homes and cars and cutting power; more storms were forecast. Bridge Monitoring: Two weather stations on the Paraguay–Brazil Bioceanic Bridge will track temperature, rainfall and winds, with alerts for dangerous winds planned for a later phase. Protected Forests: Ñacunday National Park safeguards nearly 2,000 hectares of forest and the 40-metre Salto Ñacunday waterfall, within one of Paraguay’s remaining fragments of Atlantic Forest.

Climate Monitoring: The Bioceanic Bridge linking Carmelo Peralta and Puerto Murtinho is set to get weather stations measuring temperature, rainfall and wind, alongside sensors tracking structural strain. A later phase could add alerts for dangerous crosswinds. Extreme Weather: Tennis-ball-sized hail, strong winds and heavy rain damaged homes and vehicles around Asunción and left some areas without power; emergency teams responded as officials warned of further storms. Rising Heat: Paraguay broke a 74-year temperature record in more than a dozen localities, adding to concerns as a powerful El Niño develops. Wildlife and Forests: Ñacunday National Park protects nearly 2,000 hectares of forest around its 40-metre waterfall, including a surviving fragment of Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest.

Climate Monitoring: The new Bioceanic Bridge linking Paraguay and Brazil will get two weather stations to track temperature, rainfall and winds, helping engineers assess how conditions affect the structure and eventually issue traffic alerts. Severe Weather: Tennis-ball-sized hail, strong winds and heavy rain damaged homes and cars around Asunción, knocked out power and prompted emergency measures. Paraguay also broke a 74-year temperature record across more than a dozen localities, as forecasts warn of heightened El Niño-related risks. Forest Protection: Ñacunday National Park’s 40-metre waterfall and surviving Atlantic Forest remain a major conservation asset; a Paraguayan enterprise is also exploring ways to make conservation finance work in the Atlantic Forest. Greener Government: Paraguay’s sustainable public procurement policy offers a route to use public spending to support environmental goals.

Severe Weather: Giant hailstones and strong winds battered Asunción and parts of Paraguay’s Central Department, smashing vehicles and damaging roofs and homes, while power outages prompted emergency response from the National Emergency Secretariat. Climate Risk: The storm comes as Super El Niño intensifies across the region, with record warmth in the Pacific raising flood and disruption risks for the Southern Cone and Paraguay’s wider weather outlook. Protected Nature: A new “Into the Wild” feature spotlights Ñacunday National Park, where the Ñacunday River and a 40-metre cascade flow through a surviving Atlantic Forest fragment that supports wildlife corridors. Biodiversity & Wildlife: Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest and river habitats remain in the spotlight as the week also highlighted wildlife connections across the region, including migratory birds reaching South America. Green Tech & Energy: HIVE Digital Technologies reported running large AI training workloads on GPUs located in Asunción for Columbia University researchers in New York, leveraging Paraguay’s renewable hydro power. Land & Environment Governance: In Misiones, Argentina’s governor moved to challenge expanded foreign land sales, warning of threats to territorial sovereignty and biodiversity.

Severe Weather: Giant hailstones and strong winds battered Asunción and parts of the Central Department, damaging homes, cars and roofs and knocking out electricity in some areas; Paraguay’s emergency authorities activated support measures and warned of more storms. Climate Risk: A “Super El Niño” event is intensifying across the Southern Cone, with peak conditions still weeks away and heightened flood risk for Argentina—an outlook that also raises regional weather concerns for Paraguay. Biodiversity & Parks: Ñacunday National Park is spotlighted for its 40-metre cascade and Atlantic Forest fragment, highlighting how protected forest and waterways support wildlife corridors. Wildlife: A rare buff-breasted sandpiper has been spotted as a North American vagrant, underscoring how shifting winds can move species far from their usual routes. Conservation Finance: A global forestry session in Rome frames forests as key to food, resilience and prosperity, reinforcing the role of forest protection and restoration in climate and biodiversity goals. Currency & Biodiversity: Paraguay unveiled redesigned guaraní banknotes themed around history and biodiversity, with gradual rollout planned for early 2027.