Forest mismanagement in Tierra del Fuego - Argentina: relationships between Forest Office policy and scientific research

MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G; PERI, P; LENCINAS, MV; CELLINI, JM; VUKASOVIC, R

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Congreso; XIII Congreso Forestal Mundial; 2009

Since early colonization, Tierra del Fuego based their economy on cattle production, seeing the forests as one of the main obstacles for future development. Forest harvesting has been an activity based on colonization of new areas and exploitation of native forest. Harvesting is carried out in old-growth forests without any subsequent management. Despite this mismanagement, scientific research works defined the basis to conserve, protect and improve the proposed forest management of native forests. This paper analyzes for Tierra del Fuego (Argentina): (i) forest mismanagement, (ii) past and present of scientific research, (iii) Forest Office policy concern to forestry procedures; and (iv) future scenarios in the forest industry development. Several silvicultural methods were proposed for Tierra del Fuego forests (high-grading cuttings, clear-cuts, shelterwood cuts and variable retention) but no one was correctly implemented in field. After harvesting, the stands were abandoned without any intermediate treatment. Cattle grazing, fires, illegal harvesting and non-authorized settlements led to complete forest mismanagement. Nothofagus forests are the most studied ones in South America, where the first long-term study permanent plots (1965-1966) monitored only economic and forest structure parameters, and near twenty plots were established in public lands. Most of these plots were destroyed or discontinued due to a lack of land use planning, scarce social interest for long-term research, absence of National Institutions commitment, and few contributions of local forest companies. After this, a second group of nine long-term study permanent plots were established in South Patagonia (1993-2004), with the collaboration between private companies and National Research Institutions. The monitoring objectives included economic and ecological parameters. The new plots were established on private lands together with private companies and ranch owners, with several agreements and joint-venture projects. Two examples of the lack of linkage between Forest Office policy and scientific research were analyzed: (a) clear-cuts during the 1970’s, and (b) variable retention systems during the 2000’s. Both methods were largely studied in permanent plots and successfully implemented at landscape level by the industries, and after that, forbidden by the Forest Office. The absence of clear forest policy and a long-term forest planning in Tierra del Fuego discouraged the companies to invest in forest management. Future possible scenarios in the forest industry development are discussed.