Threatened Biodiversity of Central Chile

One of the most dangerous processes currently occurring is the invasion of the radiata pine, which has recently been favored by wildfires, given its ability to produce cones with millions of wind-dispersed seeds that can survive post-fire invasions. accelerates.

Chile is a country that has a rich and unique biodiversity, which is why a large part of its ecosystem has been recognized internationally as a global hotspot for biodiversity. This recognition not only has implications for valuing the intrinsic natural beauty of these areas, but also carries with it the responsibility of guaranteeing their existence allowing adequate provision of goods and services to the population. However, the outlook is not encouraging as many of our ecosystems are seriously threatened, in some cases on the verge of collapse.

Given its sad record of deforestation and agriculture and plantations of exotic pine and eucalyptus, as well as forest fires, the coastal Moulinho forest is a terminal patient that is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of climate change. This situation has led to an alarming reduction in its surface, with less than 5% of its original surface scattered in a matrix of human systems in many fragments. Among them are still the Hualos and Robles forests as well as other species of trees that are in serious danger of extinction such as Ruil, Pitao, Queule.

One of the most dangerous processes currently occurring is the invasion of the radiata pine, which has recently been favored by wildfires, given its ability to produce cones with millions of wind-dispersed seeds that can cause post-fire invasions. accelerates. In fact, it is possible to observe that, under the canopy of burnt adult huelos, there is an abundant regeneration of pine, which due to their rapid growth prevents the regeneration of younger huelos and other species, making it highly likely That the Moulinho forest would fall like this. Or a piece of land covered with wild radiata pine would cease to exist.

This scenario increases the urgency of establishing effective conservation measures, in which the state, the forestry companies that manage the large areas where these patches are located, and the populations living in these areas must participate. On the one hand, the state should urgently move to address the problem and allocate the necessary resources to protect and restore these forests. On the other hand, the forestry industry should include the provision of adequate fire retardants and in accordance with the need to prevent fires affecting the plantations from destroying the Moulineau Forest, something that is not achieved with the current management of the plantations. In addition, to actively combat the invasion of pines within fragments of native forests that have gone too far with chemical methods of tree removal. These works do not seem unattainable with everyone’s effort and commitment, and thus avoid this ecology which endangers this valuable heritage for our future generations.