Conservation value of Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego: Differences between maps defined by niche factor analysis and Government polices

MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, GUILLERMO; SCHINDLER, STEFAN; LENCINAS, MARIA VANESSA; PERI, PABLO LUIS; SOLER ESTEBAN, ROSINA MATILDE; GAMONDÉS MOYANO, ISABEL

Dunedin

Congreso; VII Southern Connection; 2013

National legislation in Argentina (26331/07) promotes forest conservation, but biodiversity values are usually not considered in the decision taking, regarding most of the protection to marginal unproductive forests. We develop biodiversity conservation maps using environmental niche factor analysis (software Biomapper 4.0) of understory plants in Nothofagus forests of Tierra del Fuego, and compare the results with conservation strategies promoted by National and Provincial Governments. We used surveys of 535 plots and produced spatially explicit habitat suitability models for 35 vascular plants based on climatic and topographical predictor variables. Further, we produced biodiversity conservation maps (software Arcview 3.0) based on 20 most important plant species (cover + occurrence) for each forest type. Maps showed forests with different conservation value along the landscape. We identified conflicts with timber production and livestock and a deficient conservation strategy of Natural Reserves, because most of them did not included the highest conservation value forests.