398
In Argentina, a great deal of the original west marginal distribution of A. angustifolia forests appeared in small patches in the northeastern of the Province of
Misiones, covering an area of approximately 210,000 ha (Cozzo 1960). In 1993, the
remaining forest patches of A. angustifolia summed an estimated area of no more
than 2000 ha, largely in reserves and provincial parks (Burkart 1993). Particularly,
in this region, forest industry had almost exclusively used these natural stands, leading to a highly disturbed landscape. Despite the protection of the species by the
Provincial Law N° 2380 of 1986, selective extraction has continued and has left
only solitary, old, and often sick trees (Bertolini 2000; Chebez and Hilgert 2003;
Rau 2005). This fact, together with the prohibition of silvicultural interventions in
part of this area (Rau 2005), makes the development of techniques for the promotion of natural regeneration unfeasible.
Its high-quality wood and multiple applications have made A. angustifolia one of
the most exploited species in the Province of Misiones. Together with other species
of the region, such as Cedrela fissilis, Pterogyne nitens, and Handroanthus heptaphyllus, among others, its exploitation has facilitated the colonization of the
region. During the last century, the forests of the Province of Misiones were deeply
affected by drastic colonization policies. The increase in population since the 1930s,
mainly due to a great influx of immigrants from Europe, had manifold impacts.
With the new settlers, the necessity for more space, labor opportunities, and people’s livelihood in general arose. Consequently, this immigration not only resulted
in a rich exchange of cultures but also in the deforestation of ample areas of natural
forests in a continuous process that lasts until today (Rau 2005).
Local aboriginal groups (i.e., Kaingang and Guarani) have used the seeds of
A. angustifolia ancestrally as food (Cordenunsi et al. 2004). Pine nuts, known as
kuri’î, are very appreciated in the region and highly consumed, both raw, roasted or
boiled (Martínez Crovetto 1968), and this consumption might probably have an
impact on the regeneration of the natural forests. The seeds have a high content of
carbohydrates, mainly starch (near 73%), and a slight sweet taste (Ferreyra et al.
2006). However, little is known about its nutritional value and, in particular, about the
antioxidant properties of its components. In this regard, there are studies that demonstrate that certain biflavonoids, present in the leaves of the species, would efficiently
protect essential biological molecules from oxidative damage (Yamaguchi et al. 2005).
15.3 The Historical Use of Araucaria angustifolia
in Productive Plantations
Together with a forestry industrial model developed in Argentina since the middle
of the twentieth century, the need to increase the forest production led to extensive
afforestation and reforestation plans, particularly in the Province of Misiones.
Increasing the surface under cultivation is not synonymous with an increase in
M. E. Gauchat et al.
In Argentina, a great deal of the original west marginal distribution of A. angustifolia forests appeared in small patches in the northeastern of the Province of
Misiones, covering an area of approximately 210,000 ha (Cozzo 1960). In 1993, the
remaining forest patches of A. angustifolia summed an estimated area of no more
than 2000 ha, largely in reserves and provincial parks (Burkart 1993). Particularly,
in this region, forest industry had almost exclusively used these natural stands, leading to a highly disturbed landscape. Despite the protection of the species by the
Provincial Law N° 2380 of 1986, selective extraction has continued and has left
only solitary, old, and often sick trees (Bertolini 2000; Chebez and Hilgert 2003;
Rau 2005). This fact, together with the prohibition of silvicultural interventions in
part of this area (Rau 2005), makes the development of techniques for the promotion of natural regeneration unfeasible.
Its high-quality wood and multiple applications have made A. angustifolia one of
the most exploited species in the Province of Misiones. Together with other species
of the region, such as Cedrela fissilis, Pterogyne nitens, and Handroanthus heptaphyllus, among others, its exploitation has facilitated the colonization of the
region. During the last century, the forests of the Province of Misiones were deeply
affected by drastic colonization policies. The increase in population since the 1930s,
mainly due to a great influx of immigrants from Europe, had manifold impacts.
With the new settlers, the necessity for more space, labor opportunities, and people’s livelihood in general arose. Consequently, this immigration not only resulted
in a rich exchange of cultures but also in the deforestation of ample areas of natural
forests in a continuous process that lasts until today (Rau 2005).
Local aboriginal groups (i.e., Kaingang and Guarani) have used the seeds of
A. angustifolia ancestrally as food (Cordenunsi et al. 2004). Pine nuts, known as
kuri’î, are very appreciated in the region and highly consumed, both raw, roasted or
boiled (Martínez Crovetto 1968), and this consumption might probably have an
impact on the regeneration of the natural forests. The seeds have a high content of
carbohydrates, mainly starch (near 73%), and a slight sweet taste (Ferreyra et al.
2006). However, little is known about its nutritional value and, in particular, about the
antioxidant properties of its components. In this regard, there are studies that demonstrate that certain biflavonoids, present in the leaves of the species, would efficiently
protect essential biological molecules from oxidative damage (Yamaguchi et al. 2005).
15.3 The Historical Use of Araucaria angustifolia
in Productive Plantations
Together with a forestry industrial model developed in Argentina since the middle
of the twentieth century, the need to increase the forest production led to extensive
afforestation and reforestation plans, particularly in the Province of Misiones.
Increasing the surface under cultivation is not synonymous with an increase in
M. E. Gauchat et al.