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Native Plant Production in Chile. Is It Possible to Achieve Restoration Goals by 2035?
Facing rapid loss of biodiversity as a consequence of climate change, Chile has formally pledged to restore 600,000 ha of native forest by 2035. This effort, however, has not considered the amount and quality of native plants required to meet this pledge. Thus, we examined data collected during the annual, government-conducted census of small- and medium-sized nurseries from central Chile, which account for 78% of the nation’s total plant production, to assess if current production is sufficient to meet Chile´s restoration needs. We coupled this with data collected during our series of ongoing research projects to determine if nurseries are currently meeting minimum seedling quality standards based on morpho-physiological attributes. Our four-year analysis (2016–2019) shows that the number of native seedlings has increased by only 4%, but because only 19% of nursery managers have training, just 29% of all seedlings meet quality criteria for restoration. Thus, under the current rate and quality of plant production, meeting restoration pledges desired by the year 2035 would not be achieved until 2181. This timeline can be accelerated through an urgent expansion of nursery space, implementation of a continuous program for technology and knowledge transference, and strong support through governmental policies.
Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-Álvarez, Carolina-Dumroese, R. Kasten-Bannister, Jan R.-Cartes Rodríguez, Eduardo-González Ortega, Marta
2021
Field Establishment Techniques for Guindo Santo, an Endemic Species from Central Chile
El rendimiento de plantación durante el primer año se midió en guindo santo (Eucryphia glutinosa (Poepp. & Endl.) Baill.), Una especie de árbol endémico de Chile en la zona climática mediterránea, que está catalogada como una especie casi amenazada. Los efectos sobre la supervivencia del tamaño inicial de la planta, la fertilización en el establecimiento y la sombra (con o sin arboles nodriza) se evaluaron durante la primera temporada de crecimiento. La plantación de guindo santo debajo de árboles nodriza fue el tratamiento más importante para aumentar la supervivencia, en comparación con los árboles plantados a pleno sol. Creemos que los efectos positivos de los árboles genealógicos en la supervivencia están relacionados con una disminución del estrés por sequía en las plantas durante el verano, en respuesta a niveles más altos de contenido de agua del suelo y una disminución en la irradiación incidente. Sugerimos encarecidamente el uso de sombra, como árboles nodriza o refugios de árboles, durante el establecimiento de guindo santo en un clima mediterráneo
Álvarez, Carolina-Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-González Ortega, Marta-Dumroese, R. Kasten-Cartes Rodríguez, Eduardo-Quiroz Marchant, Iván
2019
Intraspecific variation in drought response of three populations of Cryptocarya alba and Persea lingue, two native species from mediterranean Central Chile
An increase in the severity of drought events on Mediterranean climates highlights the need of using plant material adapted to drought during restoration efforts. Thus, we investigated between-population morpho-physiological differences in Cryptocarya alba and Persea lingue, two native species from Mediterranean central Chile, for traits that could effectively discriminate population performance in response to water restriction (WR) testing. Three populations from each species were subjected to WR treatment and physiological, morphological, and growth parameters were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. In C. alba, the most xeric population displayed smaller plants with mesophyllous leaves and lower photosynthetic rates indicating a resource saving strategy. Moreover, the xeric population performed better during WR than the most mesic populations, exhibiting higher water use efficiency (iWUE) and maintenance of growth rates. All C. alba populations responded equally to WR in terms of morphology and biomass partitioning. In contrast, differences among P. lingue populations were subtle at the morpho-physiological level with no apparent relation to provenance environmental conditions, and no morphological traits were affected by WR. However, in response to WR application, the most mesic population was, as observed through reduction in relative growth rates, more affected than xeric populations. We attribute such discrete differences between P. lingue provenances to the lower distributional range of selected populations. Our results show that relative growth rates in both species, and iWUE only in C. alba, exhibited population specific responses upon WR imposition; these results correspond with the environmental conditions found at the origin of each populations. Both traits could further assist in the selection of populations for restoration according to their response to water stress.
Álvarez, Carolina-Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-Dumroese, R. Kasten-González Ortega, Marta-Cartes Rodríguez, Eduardo
2020
Production and establishment techniques for the restoration of Nothofagus alessandrii, an endangered keystone species in a Mediterranean forest
Ruil (Nothofagus alessandrii) is an endangered keystone species from the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile. Ruil’s fragile state of conservation urges development of restoration programs, but specific protocols for nursery production and field establishment that ensure plant survival are largely unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect on nitrogen (N) fertilization and container size during nursery production in combination with the use of mesh shelters after outplanting on survival and growth during the first growing season in the field. First year outplanting survival of nursery-grown container seedlings was enhanced when seedlings were given nitrogen (N) during nursery production and deployed with mesh tree shelters in the field. The volume of the container had no effect on outplanting survival and growth. Increasing N from zero to 200 mg N L−1 provided sufficient N levels, resulting in increased seedling height, root-collar diameter, shoot biomass, and total seedling N and phosphorous concentrations. Additional N provided by the 400 and 600 mg N L−1 treatments underwent luxury consumption by the seedlings with no further benefits in field performance. Improved growth in the nursery, along with the use of mesh tree shelters after outplanting, especially during the typical summer drought, may be responsible for increased survival during the first growing season. Increasing the performance of nursery-grown ruil seedlings is essential to restoring this endangered, vulnerable, and foundation species within the highly biodiverse, yet seriously threatened endemic Maulino Costero Forest of the Mediterranean climate of central Chile.
Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-Álvarez, Carolina-Cartes Rodríguez, Eduardo-Dumroese, R. Kasten-González Ortega, Marta
2020

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