Silviculture of Temperate Mixed Forests from South America

Abstract

Temperate mixed forests of South America extend mostly from 33°S to 55°S latitude and between the Pacific Ocean and the Patagonian Steppe east of the Andes Mountains. West of the Andes in Chile, in a high precipitation regime, the most diverse and large forest types develop. These forests simplify in composition and structure toward the south due to reductions in temperature and in a more pronounced manner east of the Andes, in Argentina, because of an abrupt reduction of the precipitations. Descriptions of the main temperate mixed forest types of Chile and Argentina are presented, focusing on ecologic issues and management proposals. For Chile, we address in this chapter secondary and old-growth forests of the evergreen forest type and secondary forest dominated by Nothofagus spp. For Argentina, we discuss the case of mixed Nothofagus spp. forests in the old-growth phase and of N. dombeyi and Austrocedrus chilensis mixed forests in the transition from the mesic to the xeric zone. There is a strong ecological and silvicultural base knowledge for the sustainable management of these mixed forests. However, with a few exceptions, its broad application is a pendant matter in both countries.