Animals and plants living in the forests of Argentina have been given a second chance at survival this week after officials ruled that all logging in native forests be suspended.

Environmentalists have long been concerned about the effect that chopping away at this habitat has had on the country's eco-system and welcome the passing of the new law.

It will mean that no logging licences can be issued by any of the local governments in the country - which will help to protect the wildlife that makes the forests so appealing.

Speaking to IPS, Hernan Giardini, Greenpeace Argentina coordinator of the forest campaign, said: "This is a huge stride, we have overcome a giant hurdle and now we have a very good instrument to protect the forests, which spearheaded the lobbying for the law together with some 30 other environmental and social organisations."

Vast swathes of forest have been cut away by loggers over the last hundred years with the Secretariat of the Environment and Sustainable Development claiming that 300,000 hectares of land disappear each year.

Argentina's diverse eco-system is one of the most attractive features of the country which is visited by thousands of adventurous travellers every year.

As well as its beautiful forests, Argentina is also home to the intriguing Pampas plains and mountainous peaks of the Andes.

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