Arid lands occupy 207,516,675 ha which represent 75% of the country total area. The population inhabits 30% of this area. The decertified area reaches 195,426,700 ha, which means 86% of the arid lands, and support 10,867,184 inhabitants. In 95% of the country precipitations are higher than 1000 mm/year; whereas in 30% rainfall values are below 200 mm/year. In general, arid lands are located to the West of the 600 mm isohyet and under the 20ºC mean annual isotherm. Semi-arid lands are located between 600 mm and 400 mm, allowing crops in rainfed conditions (temporary) or with sporadic complementary irrigation; arid lands appear below 400 mm which can be divided into hot and cold regions.

The cold arid zones are:

• Patagonia
• Payunia
• Puna
• Altoandino

The hot and dry zones are:

• Chaco
• Monte

The major causes of natural resource degradation are:

• Deforestation
• Overgrazing
• Uncontrolled expansion of agricultural border

Three localities were selected in the arid lands of Argentina; two of them under irrigation: La Paz and Jocolí (Mendoza) and one in a rain fed area: Baldes del Rosario (San Juan).

Entities related to the study, evaluation and management of arid lands:

Argentine Institute for Arid Land Research (IADIZA-CONICET)
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA)
National Water Institute (INA)
Regional Consortiums of Agricultural Experimentation (CREA)
Rural Development Institute-Mendoza (IDR)
General Department of Irrigation-Mendoza (DGI)
Pro-Huerta Programme
Rural Change Programme
Social-Agricultural Programme
Consortium of Water users of Argentina-Irrigators Association