Forests

In Chile, forestry is one of the largest export industries, only second to mining. This means that there are a lot of large plantations that are working to be as efficient as possible, specifically in the middle portion of Chile. Unfortunately, this means that native plants are replaced with trees that will grow quickly and be best for lumber production. Pine and eucalyptus are what is typically grown on these plantations since they grow quickly in the Chilean climate. These trees, however, are not native to the land and have been causing lots of problems.

 

First off, many of the native species of plants are disappearing because they are being clear cut for plantations, or out-competed by invasive species that have been introduced to the area. With such a unique and vast environment, some of these native trees can only be found in Chile or in this specific region of South America. These trees are now on the verge of extinction.

 

The non-native plants are also not adapted to the dry climate like the native plants are. This means, especially for eucalyptus trees, that a lot of water is required for the trees to survive and thrive. With a large percentage of desert covering the country, potable water is not something the country has in excess, especially to be supplying to these large plantations.

 

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(1) A picture taken in Torres del Paine National Park showing the scared remains of a tree

(2) A video taken in Torres del Paine National Park showing a barren wasteland created by past wildfires

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Different trees required different conditions and upkeep. In the United States many different types of trees benefit from controlled wildfires to kill undergrowth and strengthen the other plants that are found there. This is not the case in Chile. Wildfires have never been a natural occurrence in Chile because there is a much lower rate of naturally occurring fires. The environment has adapted to this and therefore does not handle fires well. These non-native species do thrive with fires though. When the plantations use fires to clear land or support the trees that are grown there, these fires have recently spread beyond the plantation with disastrous effects.
 

Southern Chile also suffers from wildfires, but for different reasons. The Magallanes region of Chile, more commonly known as Patagonia, is known for extreme winds especially in the summer months. This, mixed with warming global temperatures has led to increased fire weather days meaning that the risk of fires spreading out of control is higher on these days. Increased tourism to the region has led to more people, and more risk for disaster. In December of 2011, a national park in the Magallanes region of Chile suffered from a human caused wildfire that destroyed approximately 125 sq km (~48 sq miles). As one of our stops on the trip, I was able to see the effects of this wildfire. As shown above, the massive amounts of barren land used to be completely forested but has yet to recover from the extent of the 2011 fire, and many other smaller fires.