Natural range of the Patagonian beeches “Raulí” and “Roble Pellín” in Argentina – Scale 1:250,000.

SABATIER, YAMILA; PASTORINO, MARIO JUAN; UMAÑA, FERNANDO; BRAN, DONALDO

San Carlos de Bariloche

Congreso; Southern Connection Congress Gondwana Reunited: a Southern Perspective for a Changing World; 2010

Universidad Nacional del Comahue

Knowing in detail the natural distribution area of any forest tree species is essential for planning the management and conservation of its resources. Within the emblematic genus Nothofagus, Raulí (R) (N. nervosa) and Roble Pellín (RP) (N. obliqua) are noteworthy in the temperate forests of Argentina due to their restricted range and valuable timber. Previous studies have constructed maps at 1:500,000 scale, where these two species constituted diverse forest types. The aim of the present contribution is to map the presence of both species at 1:250,000 scale, irrespective of the ecosystems they compose. For several purposes the sole presence of the species is informative. Geo-referenced 2007 Landsat-TM images adjusted to the ortho-rectified mosaic built by the University of Maryland were interpreted on monitor. For this interpretation we used previous maps of lower scale, digital information available in national and provincial agencies and local settlers’ information. Ground control was restricted to some controversial points in accessible sites. R ranges on 83,235 ha and RP on 37,380 ha (20,423 ha overlapped), being those surfaces mostly located within the National Park (NP) Administration (64,532 ha of R and 28,777 ha of RP within Lanín NP, and 12,875 ha of R within Nahuel Huapi NP). Out of the Parks, R is present in only 5,828 ha and RP in 8,603 ha, where they build marginal forest patches with relevant conservation value due to their adaptation to harsher environments.