Alerce  (Fitzroya cupressoides)

The wood of the alcerce tree is highly prized as it is durable but lightweight and it has been used to make anything from furniture to ship masts (5). The resilience of the wood is evident from roofing tiles that are still in good condition despite being between 130 - 150 years old (2). Lumbering in Chile began towards the end of the 16th Century and continued right up to 1976, when the species was declared a National Monument, and the cutting of trees was therefore prohibited (7). The massive over-exploitation of the species caused population numbers to be decimated, and by the early 1900s a third of the Fitzroya forests had been lost (1). The naturally slow regeneration of this species means that any timber harvest is unsustainable and despite logging bans the species has not shown any sign of recovery (2). Today, the coastal populations appear to be declining although the direct cause is unclear; large tracts of dead, white stems have been found, although the time of death in many of these stands is unknown (7).

Logging of Fitzroya cupressoides is prohibited throughout the range of this magnificent tree, and international trade is banned by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (1). In collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, the University of Santiago is carrying out research into the conditions required for regeneration in order to assist propagation of these trees (8). The Global Trees Campaign is also involved in initiatives to restore and conserve remnant forests (6). This giant has a long history in Chile, and it is hoped that these efforts will help to restore the ancient forests to some of their former glory.