Territorial planning in Aconcagua Radio: challenges and progress in protecting the territory and water

Mendoza has had a land use law since 2007 and a Provincial Land Use Plan, approved in 2017, with a long-term vision until 2045. This is explained by Matías Dalla Torre, Director of Land Use Planning , who details how these instruments seek to coordinate urban growth with the protection of productive areas and environmental protection in the province.

“Municipal governments have direct responsibility for territorial control, while the province articulates and coordinates this planning,” notes Dalla Torre. Each municipality has its own territorial planning plan that defines residential, rural, and so-called “interface zones,” spaces where urban and agricultural uses coexist. These areas are particularly problematic, as urban expansion puts pressure on horticultural and wine production, a constant challenge in Mendoza.

The provincial plan is designed to project and plan territorial development toward 2045, but the speed of climate change and social and economic dynamics are leading to a reduction in the timeframe for forecasting. "We are in the process of updating it, using satellite technology and socioeconomic and environmental indicators to monitor, for example, the expansion of urban sprawl that threatens productive lands," explains the director.

Real estate pressure, especially evident in areas like Maipú and Luján, where uncontrolled developments occurred before the plans came into effect, is one of the greatest threats to the green belt that supplies the city with fresh food and protects rural and wine production. "Currently, with current regulations, it is very difficult to approve real estate projects in protected areas, although laws are not sufficient without economic and cultural policies that incentivize producers to maintain agricultural activity," adds Dalla Torre.

Another critical factor for territorial planning is water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change. “When the plan was developed in 2013, global warming wasn't as relevant as it is today. Now, the Ministry of Environment and Energy is working on provincial and municipal greenhouse gas inventories and promoting sustainable construction with tax benefits,” he notes. “Public infrastructure incorporates native vegetation and solar panels, considering a future with less available water .”

Regarding the most vulnerable areas, such as the foothills, where illegal occupations occurred prior to the enactment of the 2022 specific law, Dalla Torre comments that a strict line has been established to prohibit new developments in at-risk areas, and that municipal and provincial administrations are now aiming to regularize and provide services to those who already live in these areas, although the challenge is enormous.

Regarding inter-municipal coordination, although each municipality has its own autonomy, there are successful examples such as the Greater Mendoza bicycle lane network, which was jointly planned and financed. Furthermore, work is underway to unify building codes to facilitate and standardize procedures throughout the metropolitan area, a complex but fundamental process for improving territorial planning.

"It's a long-term project that requires not only laws, but also resources, a presence in the territory, economic and cultural policies, and the cooperation of all levels of government and society," concludes Dalla Torre.

In a context of accelerated urbanization, climate change, and growing demand for land and water, territorial planning in Mendoza is presented as an essential tool for achieving balanced, sustainable, and equitable development for future generations.

Listen to the full article here, and you can listen to the radio live at www.aconcaguaradio.com