The impact of forest science in Chile: history, contribution, and challenges

Abstract

In this article we describe Chile’s transition from an agriculture productive model that originated in the 19th century into a more complex economic model that incorporates forest production, explaining the role of forest sciences in this process. Forest science has made great contributions to the country, especially in terms of improving forestation and forest management techniques that have allowed the rapid expansion of the forestry industry and prevented soil erosion on degraded lands. However, native forests have been neglected and vast areas of forest have been replaced with exotic plantations. This process has highlighted the imperative need for developing a new productive model to ensure not only a fair distribution of wealth but also the use of science-based sustainable forest management practices to protect native forest ecosystems nationwide. A national strategic plan for managing, conserving, and restoring native forests is needed not only to align the forest industry with sustainable development but also to develop sound climate change strategies to achieve the country’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Under this scenario forest science can play an important role by producing much needed evidence-based knowledge.