Current and potential distribution areas for Nothofagus alessandrii, an endangered tree species from central Chile
View/ Open
Author
Santelices, Rómulo
Drake Aranda, Fernando
Mena, Carlos
Ordenes, Rodrigo
Navarro Cerrillo, Rafael M.
Publisher
Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileDate
2012Subject
DeforestationForest tree
Nothofagus alessandrii
Potential distribution
Ruil
Spatial distribution
METS:
Mostrar el registro METSPREMIS:
Mostrar el registro PREMISMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Nothofagus alessandrii ("ruil") is an
endangered species native to the Maule Coastal Forest of central Chile. Previous studies
have demonstrated that the current distribution of this species and rates of deforestation and
fragmentation present a serious threat to the species. To address this threat, spatial and temporal
variation in remnant "ruil" forest cover was analyzed for the period from 1991 to 2008. Using
aerial photography and geomatic tools, the state of "ruil" forests cover in 1991 was compared
to the "ruil" forests cover in 2008 and with this information, the potential distribution area of
this species was calculated. The results demonstrate that the current area of "ruil" forest is
approximately 314 ha, with a net loss of 42 ha (12% of the forested area) over the 17-year study
period. The annual deforestation rate for "ruil" during this period was 0.74%, a value that is
significantly lower than that reported just two decades ago. Taken together with the fact that the
majority of "ruil" forests belong to large private companies, with an additional 15% protected
by the Chilean government, the conservation status of "ruil" forest has become less critical, at
least in the short term. In addition, the habitat model from this study showed that there is a large
area of 9,841 ha within which "ruil" forests could be greatly expanded through active forest
restoration.