45
2.5 The Choice of Species for Breeding
So far, no native species have been planted for commercial purposes in the
Patagonian region. However, for about 20 years, there has been increasing interest
in planting for ecological restoration purposes, usually in response to the recurrent
and catastrophic forest fires. Active restorations were carried out after several forests fires (Table 2.1; Fig. 2.6).
In any case, commercial afforestation with native species represent a certain
potential. Although there are only few recent planting experiences, and technological adjustment is still far from complete, there are many incentives. The first is the
preservation of the original landscapes and ecosystems, which are the sustainment
of the tourist activity. In addition, the quality of the native species’ wood is superior
to that of the fast-growing exotic species grown in the region, essentially Pinus
ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii. This difference in the quality of wood is
reflected in market prices (Table 2.2), where all the native woods of the region have
values that double and even quadruple that of the wood of the most widely planted
exotic species (P. ponderosa). Although native wood so far comes from natural forest, this difference is expected to become more acute in the future, maintaining the
relative values even when native wood comes from cultivated forests.
On the other hand, the technology for production of forest seedlings of native
species has been adjusted very efficiently in the last two decades, developing effective fertigation protocols. In particular, Nothofagus species respond very well to
fertigation, allowing their growth and development to be manipulated, based on the
same protocol with slight variants (Schinelli Casares 2013).
The advances and characteristics mentioned led to the initiation, in 2006, of a
formal domestication program of native species of the Patagonian region as a part
of the National Project developed by INTA (see Chap. 1). Initially the species
N. alpina and N. obliqua were chosen for their excellent wood and growth rate.
Then, A. chilensis was included for its wood quality and potential adaptation to drier
environments, despite its lower growth rate. More recently, N. pumilio and N. antarctica, also of relatively rapid growth, were included. Nothofagus pumilio has a
very good forest shape and, being a cold-tolerant species, allows its cultivation in
cold places where other species could not be planted. The cultivation of N. antarctica, on the other hand, is specifically related to the management of the extensive
silvopastoral systems most widely implemented in Patagonia (Peri et al. 2016).
This section of the book also includes two species for which genetic improvement programs are not being developed, although its domestication is in due course
(Chaps. 7A and 7B). The first of these is the iconic A. araucana. Its growth rate is
extremely slow, making it hardly possible to grow it for economic purposes.
However, it is the species with the highest cultural value in Patagonia, to which the
Mapuche Nation even attributes spiritual value. As mentioned, the collection of
“pine nuts” in the natural forest is of great relevance in the economy of the related
Mapuche communities. In turn, the restoration of degraded areas requires its
2 Temperate Subantarctic Forests: A Huge Natural Laboratory
2.5 The Choice of Species for Breeding
So far, no native species have been planted for commercial purposes in the
Patagonian region. However, for about 20 years, there has been increasing interest
in planting for ecological restoration purposes, usually in response to the recurrent
and catastrophic forest fires. Active restorations were carried out after several forests fires (Table 2.1; Fig. 2.6).
In any case, commercial afforestation with native species represent a certain
potential. Although there are only few recent planting experiences, and technological adjustment is still far from complete, there are many incentives. The first is the
preservation of the original landscapes and ecosystems, which are the sustainment
of the tourist activity. In addition, the quality of the native species’ wood is superior
to that of the fast-growing exotic species grown in the region, essentially Pinus
ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii. This difference in the quality of wood is
reflected in market prices (Table 2.2), where all the native woods of the region have
values that double and even quadruple that of the wood of the most widely planted
exotic species (P. ponderosa). Although native wood so far comes from natural forest, this difference is expected to become more acute in the future, maintaining the
relative values even when native wood comes from cultivated forests.
On the other hand, the technology for production of forest seedlings of native
species has been adjusted very efficiently in the last two decades, developing effective fertigation protocols. In particular, Nothofagus species respond very well to
fertigation, allowing their growth and development to be manipulated, based on the
same protocol with slight variants (Schinelli Casares 2013).
The advances and characteristics mentioned led to the initiation, in 2006, of a
formal domestication program of native species of the Patagonian region as a part
of the National Project developed by INTA (see Chap. 1). Initially the species
N. alpina and N. obliqua were chosen for their excellent wood and growth rate.
Then, A. chilensis was included for its wood quality and potential adaptation to drier
environments, despite its lower growth rate. More recently, N. pumilio and N. antarctica, also of relatively rapid growth, were included. Nothofagus pumilio has a
very good forest shape and, being a cold-tolerant species, allows its cultivation in
cold places where other species could not be planted. The cultivation of N. antarctica, on the other hand, is specifically related to the management of the extensive
silvopastoral systems most widely implemented in Patagonia (Peri et al. 2016).
This section of the book also includes two species for which genetic improvement programs are not being developed, although its domestication is in due course
(Chaps. 7A and 7B). The first of these is the iconic A. araucana. Its growth rate is
extremely slow, making it hardly possible to grow it for economic purposes.
However, it is the species with the highest cultural value in Patagonia, to which the
Mapuche Nation even attributes spiritual value. As mentioned, the collection of
“pine nuts” in the natural forest is of great relevance in the economy of the related
Mapuche communities. In turn, the restoration of degraded areas requires its
2 Temperate Subantarctic Forests: A Huge Natural Laboratory