Caazapá Department

Caazapá (Spanish pronunciation: [ka(a)saˈpa]) is a department in Paraguay, with its capital in the city of the same name. The eastern region of Caazapá is relatively undeveloped, characterized by rolling hills and large areas of Brazilian Atlantic Forest situated between the San Rafael mountains to the south and the Ybytyruzú mountains to the north. Conversely, the western region consists of low-lying wetlands, marshes, and tributaries feeding into the Tebicuary River, the largest river in eastern Paraguay.

Several indigenous groups inhabit the remaining rainforest areas, particularly south of the highway connecting San Juan Nepomuceno and Tavaí. Among them are the Mbyá and Guayaki peoples, who live in small communities and practice subsistence farming under the forest canopy, cultivating corn, cassava, and yerba mate. Although many of their lands are designated as national reserves and theoretically protected by law, their territories face encroachment from illegal logging, ranching, and large-scale soybean cultivation by Brazilians.