Large fires in the Andean Araucaria forests: when a natural ecological process becomes a threat

Abstract

The fire season of 2014–2015 in Chile has been one of the worst of the last 50 years, with large and simultaneous fires affecting vast areas of Andean Araucaria–Nothofagus forests in several national parks, forest reserves and private properties. The worst-affected protected areas are China Muerta and Malleco National Reserves, and Conguillío and Tolhuaca National Parks, with an estimated total area of.12,000 ha burned. In 2002 fires burned.20,000 ha, af- fecting mostly the same protected areas and other private land covered by Araucaria forests, with c. 30 and 60%of the total area of Malleco National Reserve and Tolhuaca National Park burned, respectively. As then, the 2014–2015 fires have stirred public, political and scientific concern.