34
2.2 inhab/km
2
, wild nature can be found on the outskirts of any of its populated cities. Actually, much of the economy of the region depends directly or indirectly on
tourism. Therefore, this clearly highlights the economic importance of the conservation of natural resources, which in recent times received much attention and social
valuation. Thus, at present, a large proportion of the Subantarctic forests is under
some type of protection either national (within the National Parks), provincial
(reserves managed by the different states), or municipal (under the cities jurisdiction). However, this was not always the case, and these forests have a long history
of unsustainable exploitation and use.
The exploitation of the forests begun with the arrival of white men to these lands
during the seventeenth century. Before the colonization, Patagonia has a known history of pre-Hispanic human occupation that dates back approximately 7000 to
9200 years ago. Ethno-historical knowledge reveals intense contacts and exchanges
between different groups: Puelches, Pewenches, and Mapuches from both sides of
the Andes Mountains, at least since the sixteenth century (Carpinetti 2007). These
original folks lived within the forest (or in its margins) making a rationale use of it.
For example, in the Araucania region, the Pewenches considered Araucaria araucana a sacred tree and used the seeds (pine nuts) for their own consumption (Chap.
7A). Another example is the medicinal use of tree species like Salix humboldtiana,
whose bark contains salicin, phenols, and oxalates that have febrifuge, analgesic,
sedative, tonic, astringent, and antispasmodic properties for medicinal and veterinary use (Chap. 7B). However, with the colonization, exploitation begun. Most of
the native tree species hold an outstanding wood quality, highly appreciated both in
regional and international markets. A clear example of overexploitation is the case
of Fitzroya cupressoides, species that was logged to be used as tiles due to its prominent outdoors resistance (Fig. 2.3a). Historical buildings like churches made of
wood in Chiloé Island (Chile), declared as UNESCO World Heritage, are still standing after 300 years. Another overexploited species, particularly west of the Andes,
was Austrocedrus chilensis also used for construction (Fig. 2.3b) and even for
exporting to the Virreinato del Perú (Donoso et al. 2006a). However, the most substantial impact on the native forest came with the European colonization at the end
of the nineteenth century, after Chile and Argentina became independent nations.
After the military campaigns that decimated the original folks, the new settlers initiated a non-sustainable use of the forests, not only for wood extraction but also provoking fires to transform the forests in land for cattle raising (Rothkugel 1913;
Donoso and Lara 1995). After the subjugation of the Mapuche Nation in 1881, the
almost untouched region between the rivers Biobío and Valdivia was decimated, to
open up agricultural land. The erosion of these 300,000 ha can be observed until
today. At the beginning of twentieth century, 580,000 ha were burnt between Arauco
and Llanquihue for livestock. Similarly, the colonization of Aisén Province of Chile
was based on the conversion of forests to pasturelands: more than 2 million hectares
were burnt in a couple of decades since 1920 (Donoso and Lara 1995). Lara et al.
(1999) estimated that about 40% of the original Valdivian rain forest was lost. The
overexploitation and destruction of the native forests also occurred in Argentina,
although at a lesser extent because the main agro-business was centered in the
P. Marchelli et al.
2.2 inhab/km
2
, wild nature can be found on the outskirts of any of its populated cities. Actually, much of the economy of the region depends directly or indirectly on
tourism. Therefore, this clearly highlights the economic importance of the conservation of natural resources, which in recent times received much attention and social
valuation. Thus, at present, a large proportion of the Subantarctic forests is under
some type of protection either national (within the National Parks), provincial
(reserves managed by the different states), or municipal (under the cities jurisdiction). However, this was not always the case, and these forests have a long history
of unsustainable exploitation and use.
The exploitation of the forests begun with the arrival of white men to these lands
during the seventeenth century. Before the colonization, Patagonia has a known history of pre-Hispanic human occupation that dates back approximately 7000 to
9200 years ago. Ethno-historical knowledge reveals intense contacts and exchanges
between different groups: Puelches, Pewenches, and Mapuches from both sides of
the Andes Mountains, at least since the sixteenth century (Carpinetti 2007). These
original folks lived within the forest (or in its margins) making a rationale use of it.
For example, in the Araucania region, the Pewenches considered Araucaria araucana a sacred tree and used the seeds (pine nuts) for their own consumption (Chap.
7A). Another example is the medicinal use of tree species like Salix humboldtiana,
whose bark contains salicin, phenols, and oxalates that have febrifuge, analgesic,
sedative, tonic, astringent, and antispasmodic properties for medicinal and veterinary use (Chap. 7B). However, with the colonization, exploitation begun. Most of
the native tree species hold an outstanding wood quality, highly appreciated both in
regional and international markets. A clear example of overexploitation is the case
of Fitzroya cupressoides, species that was logged to be used as tiles due to its prominent outdoors resistance (Fig. 2.3a). Historical buildings like churches made of
wood in Chiloé Island (Chile), declared as UNESCO World Heritage, are still standing after 300 years. Another overexploited species, particularly west of the Andes,
was Austrocedrus chilensis also used for construction (Fig. 2.3b) and even for
exporting to the Virreinato del Perú (Donoso et al. 2006a). However, the most substantial impact on the native forest came with the European colonization at the end
of the nineteenth century, after Chile and Argentina became independent nations.
After the military campaigns that decimated the original folks, the new settlers initiated a non-sustainable use of the forests, not only for wood extraction but also provoking fires to transform the forests in land for cattle raising (Rothkugel 1913;
Donoso and Lara 1995). After the subjugation of the Mapuche Nation in 1881, the
almost untouched region between the rivers Biobío and Valdivia was decimated, to
open up agricultural land. The erosion of these 300,000 ha can be observed until
today. At the beginning of twentieth century, 580,000 ha were burnt between Arauco
and Llanquihue for livestock. Similarly, the colonization of Aisén Province of Chile
was based on the conversion of forests to pasturelands: more than 2 million hectares
were burnt in a couple of decades since 1920 (Donoso and Lara 1995). Lara et al.
(1999) estimated that about 40% of the original Valdivian rain forest was lost. The
overexploitation and destruction of the native forests also occurred in Argentina,
although at a lesser extent because the main agro-business was centered in the
P. Marchelli et al.