The area is important for the provision of water, the regulation of floods and droughts in the local region through its effects on the regional microclimate.
When the territory was colonized by the Spanish many of the original settlements were occupied and substantially modified. The introduction of large scale agriculture saw the indiscriminate deforestation of native trees.
The creation of the national park occurred in the 20th century. After the Second World War Dr. Troels Pederson donated the territory for the creation of the national park. The objectives of the park are to maintain the environment and show the region in its historical context.
Plant communities
The park is divided between three distinct plant communities – chaqueña, espinal, and selva paranaense.
Chaco Oriental
The Chaco Oriental or Humid Chaco is composed of woodland, palms, grass plains and wetlands. Some characteristic native species are quebracho colorado (Schinopsis lorentzii) and quebraco blanco (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco), urunday (Myracrodruon balansae), and viraró (Ruprechtia laxiflora), Prosopis, and caranday palm (Copernicia alba).