Valdivian temperate rain forests
Encyclopedia
The Valdivian temperate rain forests are a temperate broadleaf and mixed-forest ecoregion located on the west coast of southern South America
, lying mostly in Chile
and extending into a small part of Argentina
. It is part of the Neotropic
ecozone
. The forests are named after the city of Valdivia
. The Valdivian termperate rainforests are characterized by their dense understories
of bamboo
s and ferns
and for being mostly dominated by evergreen
angiosperm
trees albeit deciduous
and conifer trees are also common.
to the west, and the southern Andes Mountains to the east, from roughly 37° to 48° south latitude. North of 42°, the Chilean coastal range
runs along the coast, and the north-south running Chilean Central Valley
lies between the coastal range and the Andes. South of 42°, the coast range continues as a chain of offshore islands, including Chiloé Island
and the Chonos Archipelago
, while the "Central Valley" is submerged and continues as the Gulf of Corcovado
. Much of the ecoregion was covered by the Patagonian Ice Sheet
and other glacier
s at the peak of the last ice age
, which descended from the Andes mountains, and the numerous lakes of the Chilean lakes district in the central part of the ecoregion were originally glacial valleys, while the southern part of the region has many glacier-carved fjord
s.
To the north the Valdivian forests give way to the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
of the Chilean Matorral
ecoregion. Some few Valdivian forests grows in northern Chile such as that one in Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
as remains of the last glacial maximum
. To the south lies the Magellanic subpolar forests
ecoregion. The temperate Valdivian, Matorral, and Magellanic ecoregions are isolated from the subtropical and tropical forests of northern South America by the Atacama desert north of the Matorral, the Andes mountains, and dry rain-shadow Argentine grasslands east of the Andes. As a result, the temperate forest regions have evolved in relative isolation, with a high degree of endemic species.
. The water vapour held by the westerlies condenses as they arrive at the higher part of the windward slope
of the Andes
, thus creating rainfalls. At the same time, the northward-flowing oceanic Humboldt Current creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast. The tree line is at about 2,400 m in the northern part of the ecoregion (35° S), and descends to 1,000 m in the south of the Valdivian region. In the summer the temperature can climb to 16.5 degrees Celsius
(62 °F), while during winter the temperature can drop below 7 °C (45 °F).
The Valdivian temperate rain forests are temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
. The Valdivian and Magellanic temperate rainforests are the only temperate rain forest
s in South America
and one of a small number of temperate rain forests in the world. Together they are the second largest in the world, after the Pacific temperate rain forests
of North America
(which stretches from Alaska to northern California). The Valdivian forests are a refuge for the Antarctic flora
, and share many plant families with the temperate rainforests of New Zealand
, Tasmania
, and Australia
. Fully half the species of woody plants are endemic
to this ecoregion.
Chusquea quila
is a bamboo
that grows in humid areas below 500 m, where Chusquea coleou becomes more dominant above. Chusquea quila can form pure stands called quilantales. Very few plants can grow under this species. Other notable species are the nalca or Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria) and the ferns Lophosoria quadripinnata
and Blechnum chilense. Chile's national flower, the copihue
(Lapageria rosea) is a pioneer species
that grows in disturbed areas of the Valdivian rain forest.
) and roble (N. obliqua
); this is a transitional zone to the Mediterranean-climate forests to the north.
The second type are the Valdivian laurel-leaved forests
, characterized by a variety of broadleaf evergreen trees, including Laureliopsis philippiana
, Aextoxicon punctatum, Eucryphia cordifolia
, Caldcluvia paniculata
, and Weinmannia trichosperma
, with an understory of Myrceugenia
planipes, the arrayán
(Luma apiculata) and other plants.
The third forest type is the Patagonian Andean forests, which are distributed at higher elevations along the Andes mountain front, and are dominated by evergreen conifers, including the pehuén or monkey-puzzle (Araucaria araucana
) and the alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides). The alerce looks like a giant sequoia, and is a rival in longevity to the bristlecone pine
, some with growth rings recording 3,625 years of local weather cycles. Closer to the treeline, the conifers give way to Andean scrublands of deciduous Nothofagus
.
The fourth and last type is the Northern Patagonian forests, which dominate the southern half of the ecoregion, with evergreen species such as the broadleaf Nothofagus dombeyi and Drimys winteri
and the coniferous podocarps
, including Podocarpus nubigenus
(Podocarpus nubigena).
Some of the threatened mammals of the Valdivian forests include the monito del monte
(Dromiciops gliroides), an arboreal marsupial
, the southern pudú
(Pudu pudu) the world's smallest deer
, and the kodkod
(Leopardus guigna), South America's smallest cat
. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there are also nonnative wild boars living in the Valdivian forests. Hummingbirds are common on Valdivian forests because of the presence of plants like the maqui
(Aristotelia chilensis) and the copihue
.
s and eucalyptus
, which are more sought-after by the pulp and paper industry. The native trees that are cleared to make way for these monocultures are often exported as woodchips
to Japan. The Valdivian forests have been reduced by half already. Forest and riparian habitat in the region is also threatened by the HidroAysen
project, a proposed hydroelectric dam
and power transmission
development along the Rio Baker and Rio Pascua. A start at conservation was made in November 2003 when a consortium of conservation groups, both local and international, bought at auction of a bankrupt logging firm 147,500 acres (600 km²) of biologically rich rainforest in the Valdivian Coastal Range. Gianni Lopez, Executive Director of CONAMA, Chile’s national environmental agency remarked, "Ten years ago the existence of protected areas not owned by the government was unthinkable."
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, lying mostly in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and extending into a small part of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is part of the Neotropic
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
ecozone
Ecozone
An ecozone is the broadest biogeographic division of the Earth's land surface, based on distributional patterns of terrestrial organisms.Ecozones delineate large areas of the Earth's surface within which organisms have been evolving in relative isolation over long periods of time, separated from...
. The forests are named after the city of Valdivia
Valdivia, Chile
Valdivia is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia and Cau-Cau Rivers, approximately east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla...
. The Valdivian termperate rainforests are characterized by their dense understories
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
of bamboo
Chusquea
Chusquea is a genus of bamboo with about 150 species. Most of them are mountain clumping bamboos native from southern Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina. They are sometimes referred to as South American mountain bamboos. Unlike most other bamboos, the stems of these species are solid, not hollow...
s and ferns
Ferns
Ferns can refer to:* Fern, any of many groups of Pteridophyta in the plant kingdom* Ferns, County Wexford, a small historic town in north County Wexford, Ireland* The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns* The Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin...
and for being mostly dominated by evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
angiosperm
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
trees albeit deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
and conifer trees are also common.
Setting
The Valdivian temperate rain forests comprise a relatively narrow coastal strip between the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the west, and the southern Andes Mountains to the east, from roughly 37° to 48° south latitude. North of 42°, the Chilean coastal range
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...
runs along the coast, and the north-south running Chilean Central Valley
Chilean Central Valley
The Central Valley , Intermediate Depression or Longitudinal Valley is the depression between the Chilean Costal Range and the Andes Mountains. The central valley should not be confused with Central Chile that encompasses part of the valley...
lies between the coastal range and the Andes. South of 42°, the coast range continues as a chain of offshore islands, including Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island , also known as Greater Island of Chiloé , is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean...
and the Chonos Archipelago
Chonos Archipelago
Chonos Archipelago is a series of low mountainous elongated islands with deep bays, traces of a submerged Chilean Coast Range. Most of the islands are forested with little or no human settlement...
, while the "Central Valley" is submerged and continues as the Gulf of Corcovado
Gulf of Corcovado
Gulf of Corcovado is a large body of water separating the Chiloé Island from the mainland of Chile. Geologically it is a foreland basin that has been carved out by Quaternary glaciers. A large population of blue whales is found there, and it is under threat from salmon farming....
. Much of the ecoregion was covered by the Patagonian Ice Sheet
Patagonian Ice Sheet
350px|thumb|right|Map showing the extent of the Patagonian Ice Sheet in the [[Strait of Magellan]] area during the [[last glacial period]]. Selected modern settlements are shown with yellow dots...
and other glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s at the peak of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, which descended from the Andes mountains, and the numerous lakes of the Chilean lakes district in the central part of the ecoregion were originally glacial valleys, while the southern part of the region has many glacier-carved fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
s.
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, defined by the World Wildlife Fund, characterized by dry summers and rainy winters. Summers are typically hot in low-lying inland locations but can be cool near some seas, as near San Francisco, which have a sea of cool waters...
of the Chilean Matorral
Chilean Matorral
The Chilean Matorral is a terrestrial ecoregion of central Chile, located on the west coast of South America. It is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, part of the Neotropic ecozone....
ecoregion. Some few Valdivian forests grows in northern Chile such as that one in Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Bosque de Fray Jorge national park or Bosque Fray Jorge national park lies in the Limarí Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve.- Geography :...
as remains of the last glacial maximum
Last Glacial Maximum
The Last Glacial Maximum refers to a period in the Earth's climate history when ice sheets were at their maximum extension, between 26,500 and 19,000–20,000 years ago, marking the peak of the last glacial period. During this time, vast ice sheets covered much of North America, northern Europe and...
. To the south lies the Magellanic subpolar forests
Magellanic subpolar forests
The Magellanic subpolar forests are a terrestrial ecoregion of southernmost South America, covering parts of southern Chile and Argentina, and is part of the Neotropic ecozone...
ecoregion. The temperate Valdivian, Matorral, and Magellanic ecoregions are isolated from the subtropical and tropical forests of northern South America by the Atacama desert north of the Matorral, the Andes mountains, and dry rain-shadow Argentine grasslands east of the Andes. As a result, the temperate forest regions have evolved in relative isolation, with a high degree of endemic species.
Climate
Since the forest is located at around 40 degrees south, it is strongly influenced by the westerliesWesterlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
. The water vapour held by the westerlies condenses as they arrive at the higher part of the windward slope
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, thus creating rainfalls. At the same time, the northward-flowing oceanic Humboldt Current creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast. The tree line is at about 2,400 m in the northern part of the ecoregion (35° S), and descends to 1,000 m in the south of the Valdivian region. In the summer the temperature can climb to 16.5 degrees Celsius
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
(62 °F), while during winter the temperature can drop below 7 °C (45 °F).
Flora
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
Mixed forests are a temperate and humid biome. The typical structure of these forests includes four layers. The uppermost layer is the canopy composed of tall mature trees ranging from 33 to 66 m high. Below the canopy is the three-layered, shade-tolerant understory that is roughly 9 to...
. The Valdivian and Magellanic temperate rainforests are the only temperate rain forest
Temperate rain forest
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall.-Definition:For temperate rain forests of North America, Alaback's definition is widely recognized:-Global distribution:...
s in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and one of a small number of temperate rain forests in the world. Together they are the second largest in the world, after the Pacific temperate rain forests
Pacific temperate rain forests
The Pacific temperate rain forests ecoregion of North America is the largest temperate rain forest ecoregion on the planet as defined by the World Wildlife Fund...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(which stretches from Alaska to northern California). The Valdivian forests are a refuge for the Antarctic flora
Antarctic flora
The Antarctic flora is a distinct community of vascular plants which evolved millions of years ago on the supercontinent of Gondwana, and is now found on several separate areas of the Southern Hemisphere, including southern South America, southernmost Africa, New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia...
, and share many plant families with the temperate rainforests of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Fully half the species of woody plants are endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to this ecoregion.
Chusquea quila
Chusquea quila
Chusquea quila is a perennial bamboo that grows in the humid temperate forests of Chile and Argentina.In contrast to most bamboos, it grows as a dense, climbing or decumbent shrub. Its aerial culms are solid, unlike most bamboos, which have hollow culms...
is a bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
that grows in humid areas below 500 m, where Chusquea coleou becomes more dominant above. Chusquea quila can form pure stands called quilantales. Very few plants can grow under this species. Other notable species are the nalca or Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria) and the ferns Lophosoria quadripinnata
Lophosoria quadripinnata
Lophosoria quadripinnata or ampe in Chilean Spanish is a medium-sized fern with a distribution in the Americas spanning from Cuba and Mexico to Chile. In Chile it is present in the area between Talca and Aysén including Juan Fernández Islands. In Argentina it grows only in the humid valleys of...
and Blechnum chilense. Chile's national flower, the copihue
Copihue
Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue (co-pee-way Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue (co-pee-way...
(Lapageria rosea) is a pioneer species
Pioneer species
Pioneer species are species which colonize previously uncolonized land, usually leading to ecological succession. They are the first organisms to start the chain of events leading to a livable biosphere or ecosystem...
that grows in disturbed areas of the Valdivian rain forest.
Forests ecosystems
There are four main types of forest ecosystems in the Valdivian ecoregion. At the northern end of the ecoregion are deciduous forests, dominated by two deciduous species of southern beech: rauli (Nothofagus alpinaNothofagus alpina
Nothofagus alpina also called Rauli Beech is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. Deciduous tree, it grows in Chile and Argentina , it reaches 50 m height and more than 2 meters in diameter. Its distribution goes from 35 to 42° South latitude. It is found on the Andes...
) and roble (N. obliqua
Nothofagus obliqua
Nothofagus obliqua, is a deciduous tree from Chile and Argentina. It grows from 33 to 43° South Latitude, in Chile and Argentina. The northern extent of this tree's range in Chile is considered to be the Vizcachas Mountains and La Campana National Park.-Description:N...
); this is a transitional zone to the Mediterranean-climate forests to the north.
The second type are the Valdivian laurel-leaved forests
Laurel forest
Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...
, characterized by a variety of broadleaf evergreen trees, including Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana , known as Tepa is a species of plant endemic to Chile and Argentina . In Chile it is found from Maule to Aysen. It grows on humid and deep soils.-Description:...
, Aextoxicon punctatum, Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia
Eucryphia cordifolia is a species of tree in the Cunoniaceae family. It is found in Chile and Argentina. It is threatened by logging and habitat loss. The natural habitat is along the Andes Range from 38 to 43°S, and up to 700 meters above sea level. It is a very elegant tree with a thick trunk...
, Caldcluvia paniculata
Caldcluvia paniculata
Caldcluvia paniculata, known as Tiaca is an evergreen tree native to Chile in the Cunoniaceae family, it grows from Nuble to Aysen .-Description:...
, and Weinmannia trichosperma
Weinmannia trichosperma
Weinmannia trichosperma , is a evergreen tree in the family of Cunoniaceae, it is native to Chile and Argentina: 35 to 47°S. endemic to laurel forest habitat.-Description:...
, with an understory of Myrceugenia
Myrceugenia
Myrceugenia is a genus of evergreen woody flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the Myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus is native to South America from southeast Brazil south to southern Chile; it is closely related to the genus Luma; some botanists include Myrceugenia in that genus.Two species...
planipes, the arrayán
Luma apiculata
Luma apiculata, is a species of tree in the genus Luma in the family Myrtaceae, native to the central Andes mountains between Chile and Argentina between 33 and 45° South Latitude. Synonyms include Myrtus luma Mol., Eugenia apiculata DC., Myrceugenia apiculata Niedenzu, and Myrceugenella...
(Luma apiculata) and other plants.
The third forest type is the Patagonian Andean forests, which are distributed at higher elevations along the Andes mountain front, and are dominated by evergreen conifers, including the pehuén or monkey-puzzle (Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria araucana is an evergreen tree growing to tall with a trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina and south Brazil. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria...
) and the alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides). The alerce looks like a giant sequoia, and is a rival in longevity to the bristlecone pine
Bristlecone pine
The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees that are thought to reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known, up to nearly 5,000 years....
, some with growth rings recording 3,625 years of local weather cycles. Closer to the treeline, the conifers give way to Andean scrublands of deciduous Nothofagus
Nothofagus
Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 35 species of trees and shrubs native to the temperate oceanic to tropical Southern Hemisphere in southern South America and Australasia...
.
The fourth and last type is the Northern Patagonian forests, which dominate the southern half of the ecoregion, with evergreen species such as the broadleaf Nothofagus dombeyi and Drimys winteri
Drimys winteri
Drimys winteri , or Canelo, is a slender tree, growing up to 20 m tall. It is native to the Magellanic and Valdivian temperate rain forests of Chile and Argentina, where it is a dominant tree in the coastal evergreen forests. It is found below 1200 meters between latitude 32° south and Cape...
and the coniferous podocarps
Podocarpaceae
Podocarpaceae is a large family of mainly Southern Hemisphere conifers, comprising about 156 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. It contains 19 genera if Phyllocladus is included and if Manoao and Sundacarpus are recognized....
, including Podocarpus nubigenus
Podocarpus nubigenus
Podocarpus nubigenus is a species of podocarp, endemic to the Valdivian temperate rain forests of southern Chile and adjacent southwestern Argentina. It is the southernmost podocarp in the world, It grows from 38° to Ultima Esperanza , It grows in wet and swampy soils...
(Podocarpus nubigena).
Fauna
Monito del Monte
The Monito del Monte The Monito del Monte The Monito del Monte (Spanish for "little mountain monkey", Dromiciops gliroides, is a diminutive marsupial native only to southwestern South America (Chile and Argentina). It is the only extant species in the ancient order Microbiotheria, and the sole New...
(Dromiciops gliroides), an arboreal marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
, the southern pudú
Pudú
The pudús are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu; the world's smallest deer. The name is a loanword from Mapudungun the language of the indigenous Mapuche people of southern Chile...
(Pudu pudu) the world's smallest deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, and the kodkod
Kodkod
The Kodkod , also called Guiña, is the smallest cat in the Americas and also has the smallest distribution, being found primarily in central and southern Chile and marginally in adjoining areas of Argentina...
(Leopardus guigna), South America's smallest cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there are also nonnative wild boars living in the Valdivian forests. Hummingbirds are common on Valdivian forests because of the presence of plants like the maqui
Maqui
Maqui can refer to:* Maqui, the common name of Aristotelia chilensis, a plant from South America;* Maqui, member of the Spanish resistance in Spain during Francisco Franco's dictatorship;...
(Aristotelia chilensis) and the copihue
Copihue
Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue (co-pee-way Lapageria rosea, commonly known as the Copihue (co-pee-way...
.
Conservation
The Valdivian forests include stands of huge trees, especially Nothofagus and Fitzroya, which can live to a great age. These magnificent rainforests are endangered by extensive logging and their replacement by fast-growing pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s and eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
, which are more sought-after by the pulp and paper industry. The native trees that are cleared to make way for these monocultures are often exported as woodchips
Woodchips
Woodchips are a medium-sized solid material made by cutting, or chipping, larger pieces of wood. Woodchips may be used as a biomass solid fuel. They may also be used as an organic mulch in gardening, landscaping, restoration ecology and mushroom cultivation...
to Japan. The Valdivian forests have been reduced by half already. Forest and riparian habitat in the region is also threatened by the HidroAysen
HidroAysén
HidroAysén is a controversial megaproject that aims to build five hydroelectric power plants in Chile's Aysen Region. Two on the Baker River and three on the Pascua River....
project, a proposed hydroelectric dam
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
and power transmission
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
development along the Rio Baker and Rio Pascua. A start at conservation was made in November 2003 when a consortium of conservation groups, both local and international, bought at auction of a bankrupt logging firm 147,500 acres (600 km²) of biologically rich rainforest in the Valdivian Coastal Range. Gianni Lopez, Executive Director of CONAMA, Chile’s national environmental agency remarked, "Ten years ago the existence of protected areas not owned by the government was unthinkable."
Argentina
- Los Alerces National ParkLos Alerces National ParkThe Los Alerces National Park is a national park in Chubut Province, Argentina, some 30 miles from Esquel. It is a park of 2,630 square kilometres along the border with Chile, best known for the alerce trees from which the park takes its name.The park was created in 1937 in order to protect the...
- Los Arrayanes National ParkLos Arrayanes National ParkLos Arrayanes National Park is a national park of Argentina with an area of 17.53 square kilometres. It covers the Quetrihué Peninsula on the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake in the province of Neuquén, 3 km from Villa la Angostura....
- Lago Puelo National ParkLago Puelo National ParkThe Lago Puelo National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the northwest of the province of Chubut, in the Patagonia. It has an area of 276.74 km²...
- Lanín National ParkLanín National ParkLanín National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Neuquén Province, with forests of diverse tree varieties, mainly Fagaceae and conifers such as the lenga and the Araucaria, many species of which are not found elsewhere in Argentina....
- Nahuel Huapí National ParkNahuel Huapi National ParkEstablished in 1934, the Nahuel Huapi National Park is the oldest national park in Argentina. It surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes. The largest of the national parks in the region, it has an area of , or nearly 2 million acres...
Chile
- Bosque de Fray Jorge National ParkBosque de Fray Jorge National ParkBosque de Fray Jorge national park or Bosque Fray Jorge national park lies in the Limarí Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve.- Geography :...
- Huerquehue National ParkHuerquehue National ParkHuerquehue National Park is located in the Andes, in the Valdivian temperate rainforest of the Araucanía Region in southern Chile. The park encompasses 125 square kilometres of mountainous terrain east of Caburgua Lake, and has an elevation range from 720 to 2,000 m asl.One of the most noteworthy...
- Huilo-Huilo Biological ReserveHuilo-Huilo Biological ReserveHuilo-Huilo Biological Reserve is a private natural reserve and ecotourism project in southern Chile. The reserve was created in 1999 and includes of native forest in Chile dedicated to wildlife conservation and tourism...
- Los Vertientes Private Nature ReserveLos Vertientes Private Nature ReserveLas Vertientes Private Nature Reserve is a National Reserve of Chile located in the Los Lagos Region, of Patagonia in southern Chile. A private nature reserve operated by the Corporación Nacional Forestal, it protects the plants and animals of the Valdivian temperate rainforest located here...
- Oncol ParkOncol Park"Oncol" redirects here, for the mountain see Cerro OncolOncol Park is a natural reserve located from the city of Valdivia, Chile. The park has an area of of which most lies on Cerro Oncol , the highest peak of the Valdivian Coast Range, but is only from the coast. Oncol Park is located in an...
- Pumalín ParkPumalín ParkPumalín Park is a private nature reserve in the Palena Province of Chile, created by the United States environmental foundation The Conservation Land Trust, which is endowed and led by the American business magnate Douglas Tompkins...
- Puyehue National ParkPuyehue National ParkPuyehue National Park is located in the Andes, in Los Ríos and Los Lagos Region of Chile. It covers . The Route 215 passes through the park. It connects with the Argentine Route 231 via Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass....
- Tantauco ParkTantauco ParkTantauco Park is a private natural reserve on the south end of Chiloé Island in Chile. The park was created by Chilean business magnate and President of Chile Sebastián Piñera in 2005 in order to protect 118,000 hectares of the region's unique ecosystem...
- Queulat National ParkQueulat National ParkQueulat National Park is a national park of Chile located in the Aisén Region. The park is bordered by the Cisnes River on the south side and is neighbor to Lago Rosselot National Reserve...
- Valdivian Coastal ReserveValdivian Coastal ReserveValdivian Coastal Reserve is a natural reserve located in the Cordillera Pelada, in Los Ríos Region of Chile, near Corral. The reserve was formed in 2003 when the WWF, TNC and other local organizations acquired a large area of of which 83% is categorized as Valdivian temperate rainforest and 7.8%...
- Valdivia National ReserveValdivia National ReserveValdivia National Reserve is a natural reserve located in the Valdivian Coastal Range, in Los Ríos Region of Chile, near the port of Corral. It is bordered by the south by the Valdivian Coastal Reserve and by the north it limits with the Alerce Costero Natural Monument....
- Villarrica National ParkVillarrica National ParkVillarrica National Park is located in the Andes, in the Araucanía and Los Ríos regions of Chile, near Pucón. The centerpiece of the park is a line of three volcanoes stretching transversely to the Andean range: Villarrica, Quetrupillán, and Lanín....
See also
- Chilean Native Forest LawNative Forest LawThe Chilean Law of Recuperation of Native Forest and Forestal Promotion most often referred as the Native Forest Law is a law that regulates the use of native forests and is also aimed to promote sustaitable forest management...
- Chilean matorralChilean MatorralThe Chilean Matorral is a terrestrial ecoregion of central Chile, located on the west coast of South America. It is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, part of the Neotropic ecozone....
- Magellanic subpolar forestsMagellanic subpolar forestsThe Magellanic subpolar forests are a terrestrial ecoregion of southernmost South America, covering parts of southern Chile and Argentina, and is part of the Neotropic ecozone...
External links
- Explore the Valdivian Coastal Reserve -- delve deep into the rainforest with a personal tour from The Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
- Photos of the Valdivian Rainforest
- Valdivian temperate forests scientific report (World Wildlife Fund)
- Valdivian temperate rain forests/Juan Fernandez Islands (World Wildlife Fund)
- Research at Chiloé Rain Forest
- Flora species from Valdivian rain forests