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4.63. One of the most significant programmes in the DIPROSE portfolio is PROSAP. It is a federal programme that implements public investment projects at the provincial and national levels, (...) PROSAP also funds initiatives that promote competitiveness in small and medium-sized farmers and in agro-industrial MSMEs, and that improve quality and access to new markets, with a focus on increased climate change resilience.

4.64. PROSAP is used to fund projects through direct public investment, joint public-private investment, and initiatives to enhance competitiveness. The public investment projects funded by PROSAP are focused on the following areas: irrigation, drainage and water-resource management; (...)

4.79. The National Fund for the Enrichment and Conservation of Native Forests was created with the aim of compensating jurisdictions that preserve native forests for the environmental services they provide. In 2018, the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development created the Trust Fund for the Environmental Protection of Native Forests in order to administer the National Fund for the Enrichment and Conservation of Native Forests. The Trust Fund is financed by sources including the following: annually allocated budget appropriations, which may not amount to less than 0.3% of the national budget; 2% of total withholdings practised on exports of primary and secondary agriculture, livestock and forestry products; and loans and/or subsidies granted by national and international organizations. (...) Each jurisdiction may use a total of 70% of the funds it is allocated to compensate landowners whose land has an area of native forests. This compensation will take the form of a non-repayable contribution paid per hectare per year, in accordance with the classification of native forests, (...) For the year 2020, current transfers of ARS 609.8 million were allocated by the State. These were mainly destined for the following purposes: to conserve native forests and regulate the expansion of the agricultural and livestock sector; to improve and maintain ecological and cultural processes in native forests; and to promote the enrichment, conservation, renovation, improvement and sustainable management of native forests.

4.80. Argentina has notified the WTO of the subsidies granted under Law No. 25.080 on Investment in Cultivated Woodland (Official Journal of 19 January 1999) and amendments thereto. The Law establishes incentives to be granted by the State to promote the harmonious development of the forestry sector. The activities included in the regime are: the planting of woodland and the maintenance and sustainable management thereof. SAGyP is the implementing authority. (...) The Law on Investment in Cultivated Woodland grants beneficiaries fiscal stability at the national, provincial and municipal levels (except with respect to VAT) for up to 30 years, a period which can be extended for up to a maximum of 50 years, depending on the area and cultivation cycle of the species planted. (...) Additionally, beneficiaries of this regime may receive non-repayable economic support in the form of a sum of money which is calculated per hectare and varies according to zone, species and forestry activity. [97]

[97] The benefits include the following: up to 80% of the costs of planting woodland covering up to 20 ha; up to 60% of costs for the first 50 ha in the case of woodlands covering between 20 and 300 ha; up to 50% for the following 100 ha; and up to 40% for the following 150 ha (350 ha in the case of the region of Patagonia).

4.82. Between 2009 and 2015, Argentina implemented the Project for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources with funding from the World Bank. The Project was divided into three coordinated components: (a) Native Forests and Biodiversity, implemented by the Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development with approximate funding of USD 3.78 million; (b) Sustainable Forestry Plantations, implemented by MAGyP with funding of approximately USD 25 million; and (c) Protected Areas and Conservation Corridors, implemented by the National Parks Administration with funding of approximately USD 29 million. The Sustainable and Competitive Forestry Programme has been running since 2013 with IDB funding of USD 60 million, while USD 14.8 million has been contributed by national and provincial governments. The Programme aims to contribute to the sustainable and competitive management of forestry plantations, increase product quality, diversify the production base and improve access to production chains and markets for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the forestry and industrial forestry sectors.

4.91. The Programme for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (PRODESPA), which was launched in 2014 and came to an end in December 2020, sought to contribute to sustainable fishing and aquaculture, ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources and improve competitiveness in the aquaculture sector through support for sustainable production and development throughout the value chain. The total cost of PRODESPA was USD 55 million, of which the IDB financed some USD 30 million, alongside a local and national contribution of some USD 25 million. PRODESPA was divided into two components: improvement of capacity to manage marine fishery resources; and support for aquaculture development. (...).

4.93. The Inland Fisheries Commission (CPC), created in November 2004 within the framework of the Federal Council for Agriculture (CFA), has the fundamental aim of harmonizing integrated management policy at the river basin level with a view to ensuring the sustainable and responsible use of inland fishery resources. (...) Decree No. 230/2021 establishes that SAGyP is responsible for setting export quotas for the main species of commercial interest in the River Basin. The SSPyA regularly assesses the status of these species and recommends whether or not export quotas should apply with the aim of preserving the resources of the Río de la Plata River Basin. [111]

[111]The species are: shad; surubins; tahira; piau; zungaro; golden dorado; long-whiskered catfish; thorny catfish; channel catfish; and driftwood catfish (NCM 0304.49.90; 0304.89.90; 0302.89.31; 0302.89.33; 0302.89.34; 0302.89.35; 0302.89.90; 0303.89.51; 0303.89.53; 0303.89.54; 0303.89.55; 0303.89.90; 0305.39.00; 0305.49.90; 0305.59.00; and 0305.69.90).

4.94. Aquaculture is regulated by the Law on the Sustainable Development of the Aquaculture Sector. Aquaculture producers must be listed on the Single Register of Aquaculture Establishments (RENACUA) of MAGyP. (...) The Law created the Promotion and Development Regime for Growth in the Aquaculture Sector and the National Fund for the Development of Aquaculture Activities (FONAC), which provides funding for: (...) compliance with sanitary control and quality certification programmes (up to 50% of the costs of projects related to obtaining certificates of quality, origin or organic production); (...).

4.99. Mining policy is designed at the national and provincial levels. In the case of the latter, a series of agreements have been reached between the national government and the provinces. The most recent of these, the Federal Mining Agreement, signed in 2017, contains the sectoral guidelines to be followed over the coming decades. Its text was signed by the national government and provincial governments (...) The provinces also undertake to require mining companies to allocate 1.5% of their gross income to a Provincial Infrastructure Fund to finance environmental and water monitoring works. (...). The Agreement also includes environmental provisions and clauses encouraging the use of national components ("compre local") and national labour, as well as promoting preferential treatment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the mining sector, such as lower tariffs and technical assistance.

4.142. Law No. 27.430 (Official Journal of 29 December 2017) amended Law No. 23.966 and established a tax on the transfer of domestically produced and imported liquid fuels and a tax on carbon dioxide (instead of natural gas). [152] (...)

[152] Law No. 27.467 (Official Journal of 4 December 2018) establishes an exemption from the tax for imports of gas oil and diesel oil in 2019, so as to compensate for peaks in demand intended to supply the electricity generation market.