The forest types of the Valdivian Ecoregion

The Sclerophilic Forest

Characteristics and distribution

According to the distribution defined by Donoso (1981), the sclerophilic forest is found in the Coastal Range between the Limarí River (30°50´ south latitude) and the Malleco River (36°30´ south), in the Central Valley between 30°50´ and 37°50´ south, and in the Andes Range between 32° and 38° south.

These regions have a mediterranean climate, and the soils tend to be highly eroded due to heavy winter precipitation and limited ground cover. Characteristic species include espino (Acacia caven) (mostly in the Central Valley), quillay (Quillaja saponaria), maitén (Maytenus boaria) and litre (Lithrea caustica). It is also possible to find patagua (Crinodendron patagua), belloto del norte (Beilschmiedia miersii), pitra (Myrceugenia exsucca), and canelo (Drimys winteri) in wetter ravines and gulleys (Donoso, 1995).

Threats faced

The Sclerophilic forest covers an area of 345,088 hectares, and has lost almost 97% of its original surface area in the ecoregion since 1550 (FVSA, 1999).

Some interesting facts

• Much of this forest has been cleared for agricultural land or clear-cut for forestry plantations.
• The remaining stands are highly degraded due to livestock grazing and extraction of firewood. These last two processes have led to the formation of "espinales" in some areas, where espino takes on an open, savannah-like appearance (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.

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

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

UACh, 2000. Original vegetation cover in the Valdivian ecoregion around the year 1550.