The forest types of the Valdivian Ecoregion

Evergreen Forests

Characteristics and distribution

Also known as coastal temperate rainforests, the Evergreen forests are found only in Chile and are the least altered of all five forest types found in the Valdivian ecoregion. They extend from approximately 37º30' south to 47º south, covering a range of over nine degrees of latitude. As a result, they grow over a wide range of environmental conditions; average annual precipitation can vary up to 2700 mm from one area to another, and substrates include both organic and mineral soils (metamorphic, volcanic, and ñadis). This great diversity of latitudes, altitudes, climatic conditions and soil types results in a corresponding diversity of flora (Donoso, et al. 1999).

Threats faced

The Valdivian evergreen forest currently covers 4,148,904 hectares (CONAF et al. 1997), and has lost 23% of its original area since 1550. A total of 1,415,995 hectares are currently protected in Chiloé, Vicente Pérez Rosales, Hornopirén, Alerce Andino and Puyehue National Parks, as well as Valdivia and Llanquihue National Reserves and Coastal Alerce Natural Monument (FVSA, 1999). Unfortunately, the great majority of these protected areas are located in the Andes Range, with only Coastal Alerce Natural Monument, Valdivia National Reserve, and Chiloé National Park being located in the Coastal Range. The recent acquisition of 60,000 hectares on the Chaihuín-Venecia property, along with other private initiatives such as Pumalin Park, will help to increase the protection of coastal evergreen forests.

Some interesting facts

• These forests typically have a very high biomass, and make up a total of 30 % of the existing vegetation in Chile.
• One of the most characteristic types of evergreen forest is the coastal olivillo forest, which grows in narrow strips along the Pacific coast. Another is the "turbera", an area with poorly drained soil where alerce grows in conjunction with other typical vegetation.
• The most representative species of these forests are tepa (Laurelia philippiana), luma (Amomyrtus luma), canelo (Drimys winteri), tineo (Weinmannia trichosperma), olivillo (Aextoxicon punctatum), medallita (Sarmienta repens), and botellita (Mitraria coccinea) (CONAF, 1998).

Sources of information

CONAF, GTZ. 1998. Experiences in silviculture: Sustainable management of Chile's native forest. Publicaciones lo castillo S.A. 420 pp.

CONAF, CONAMA, BIRF. 1997. Survey and evaluation of native plant resources of Chile.

Donoso, C. 1995. Temperate Rainforests of Chile and Argentina. Structural variation and dynamics. Editorial Universitaria. Santiago, Chile. 483 pp.

Donoso, C., Lara, A. 1999. Silviculture of the Chile's native forests. Editorial Universitaria. Chapter 10. Evergreen forests. pp. 297- 339.

FVSA. 1999. Maps of the Valdivian ecoregion forests, 1:500,000 scale. Technical Bulletin, Fundaci�n Vida Silvestre de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 7 pp.

Gajardo, R. 1994. Natural vegetation of Chile. Classification and geographic distribution. Editorial Universitaria. Santiago, Chile. 165 pp.