SUMMARY

THE FOREST INVENTORY

The forests of Chile, including woodland and plantation, cover 16 million hectares or 22 percent of the country's land surface. This is equivalent to 3.2 hectares per capita, woodland and forest combined, compared with 2.0 hectares in the United States. Chile has 1.1 hectares per capita of commercial forest (as against 1.4 hectares in the United States) and is particularly rich in virgin old growth sawtimber.

These forests, woodlands and plantations are scattered through 38 degrees of latitude. Timber ranges from the scrubby patches of the northern desert to the wind-swept remnants of high forest in the Straits of Magallanes, and from sea level to timber line on the snow-capped range of the main cordillera. The forested areas show a corresponding diversity in composition and general characteristics. Almost 9 million hectares or 55 percent of the forest resources are in woodland; 7.1 million hectares or 44 percent are in natural forest; and the rest, about 143,500 hectares, in plantations.

The woodlands contain trees comparatively small in size, poor in form, and suitable primarily for fuel wood.

Seventy-six percent of the total natural forest land is covered with or is capable of growing commercial sawtimber; 24 percent consists of rocky, non-commercial areas. Eighty percent of the commercial forest land is covered with virgin growth, 9 percent supports partially cut or second-growth stands, and 11 percent is deforested as a result of fire and cutting. The virgin forest is 93 percent hardwood and 7 percent conifer, by area. Natural second-growth and partially cut forests are almost entirely hardwood.

The 143,500 hectares of planted forests cover area equivalent to 2.6 percent of the natural commercial forest. Insignis Pine and Eucalyptus comprise almost 90 percent of the plantations; the rest is in Alamo, Ciprés, Acacia and other species. Almost one-fourth of the plantation area has reached exploitable size, i. e., a minimum of 7 years for Alamo, 10 to 15 years for Eucalyptus, and 20 years for Insignis Pine and most other species.

Volume and Quality of Timber

The commercial forests of Chile consist of typically native trees, including Coigue, Tepa, Rauli, Roble, Laurel, Ulmo, and Lingue, with fine but limited conifer stands, chiefly Araucaria, Alerce, and Ciprés. These forests are usually dense and luxuriant, with heavy undergrowth. The trees are from 80 to 115 feet high and up to 40 or more inches in diameter. Many have clear lengths of 20 to 65 feet. Although the forest often contains many species, the bulk of the merchantable timber is usually found in 2 to 4 species. Araucaria, Alerce, and Coigue occur in nearly pure stands to a considerable extent.

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The volume of sound wood in Chilean forests and woodlands is estimated at 65,095 million cubic feet. The bulk of this total is found in the southern part of the country · 46 percent in Province Group 4 (Arauco, Malleco, Cautín, Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue) and 38 percent in Province Group 5 (Chiloé and Aysen). Over 96 percent of the sound wood occurs in the natural forest zone; about 3 percent in the dry-zone woodlands of central and northern Chile; and 1 percent in planted forests.

Of the estimated 52,668 million cubic feet of sawtimber stands, all but 1 percent is in natural forest. The volume of sound wood suitable for sawlogs is 38,404 million cubic feet, or 73 percent of the total in sawtimber stands, 15 percent is in the unused tops of trees; 5 percent in rough trees and other trees unsuitable for sawlogs, and 7 cent in understory trees less than 11.1 inches d.b.h. About 175,000 million board feet of lumber could be sawn out of the sound wood volume of sawlogs, presupposing a standard of utilization and manufacturing efficiency attained by the better Chilean sawmills today.

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Coigue stands are the leading source of sawtimber volume. They comprise 35 percent of the total, followed by Tepa, 23 percent, Ulmo, 8 percent, and Tineo, 7 percent. The net volume in virgin sawtimber stands averages 40,000 board feet per hectare. In Province Group 4 the stands are considerably heavier, averaging about 58,000 board feet per hectare, but north of Arauco and Malleco, as well as in Chiloé and Aysen, the virgin stands average only 28,000 board feet. Magallanes has about 21,500 board feet per hectare.

The quality of the timber stand in Chile compares favorably with that of the principal hardwood forests of North America.

Forest Ownership

About 54 percent of the natural sawtimber forest area is privately owned while 43 percent is in some form of public ownership. The remaining 3 percent is in indeterminate ownership or in litigation. About four-fifths of the privately owned forest area is in holdings of 1,000 or more hectares.

Of the public forest lands, 73 percent is "disposable" (i.e., not reserved or obligated for any special purpose), 19 percent is in national forest reserves, and 8 percent is under lease or in concession. Public ownership is most prevalent in the Province of Aysen, where 84 percent of the sawtimber forest is so owned. In contrast, almost 96 percent in Valdivia and Osorno is privately owned.

Depletion by Cutting

Although Chile's domestic consumption of forest products is comparatively light, the forests already support a relatively large industry. About 196 million cubic feet of timber is being cut annually to supply domestic and industrial needs.

About 55 percent of the total cut comes from Province Group 4 (Arauco, Malleco, Cautín, Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue). Roble, Eucalyptus, Luma, Insignis Pine, Coigue, Ulmo, and Rauli furnish the largest amount in the order named among natural forest and plantation species. Sixty-one percent of the total timber cut comes from the natural forest, as against 27 percent from plantations, and 12 percent from woodlands. In addition, to the 196 million cubic feet cut each year from live standing trees, approximately 38.5 million cubic feet of wood is salvaged annually from forest or manufacturing waste.

Nature of Cut

Fuel wood is by far the largest use of timber in Chile. Almost three times as much material is consumed for this purpose as for lumber products (the next item) and over 1-1/2 times as much as for all other items combined, including lumber. Only one-fifth of the fuel wood cut comes from woodlands, the rest from the natural forest and plantations. Eu accounts for two-thirds of the fuel wood cut from planta

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The lumber cut is derived chiefly from the natural forest, but plantations furnish a substantial volume. Mine timbers and wood for fencing and minor agricultural use are drawn from both the natural forest and plantation areas, while pulpwood comes largely from plantation grown Insignis Pine.

The timber cut, by species, is disproportionate to the available resources. Thus, Roble, comprising only 1.7 percent of Chile's total timber stand, provides 15 percent of the entire cut. The present cut of Laurel is also greater than can be maintained, even if fire and loss from disease and other causes could be entirely eliminated. The cut of plantation species, particularly Eucalyptus and Alamo, is likewise out of proportion to the timber stand. Summing up, the bulk of sawtimber depletion is not only concentrated in a limited geographical area, but is confined to a few species, Roble, Coigue, Eucalyptus, Ulmo, Rauli, and Laurel.

Depletion of the Forest by Fire

At present, fire takes a heavy toll of Chile's forests, especially in certain regions--a natural consequence of the lack of organized fire control and protection. In recent years, the annual loss of. timber by fire has averaged 1,930 million board feet, an amount equivalent to more than four times the volume cut. Obviously, fire losses are a very serious obstacle to the development of large and prosperous forest industries in Chile on a permanent basis.

The woodland and natural forest suffer about equally from fire, as measured in percent of respective total volumes lost annually, but 98 percent of the total cubic wood volume lost occurs in the natural forest By contrast, net fire loss in forest plantations is negligible, thus demonstrating what fire control can accomplish.

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Sixty-eight percent of the annual sawtimber fire loss occurs in Province Group 4; 2 percent in the Provinces to the north; 26 percent in Chiloé and Aysen; and 4 percent in Magallanes. Almost all the fires are man-caused, and a large proportion are associated with logging operations. Fires set by loggers or in land clearing operations frequently spread into the virgin forest with cumulative momentum and destruction. Lightning fires and those caused by volcanic action are said to be rare.

Wind, Insect, and Disease Depletion

In mature forests mortality from windfall, insects, and disease is characteristically high. Since mature forests prevail in Chile, there is a huge loss from this source, estimated annually at 1,312 million board feet, a volume sufficient to support a forest industry more than twice the size of that existing today.

Loss from wind, insects, and disease is. greatest in inaccessible and unmanaged forests, a fact which renders complete salvage prohibitive. The loss is low in plantations because the stands are composed of young, vigorous trees not highly susceptible to the agencies of mortality, and in addition easy accessibility permits the salvage of almost all wind-blown or infected trees.

No serious epidemics have yet occurred in the plantations but real threats exist, such as mistletoe damage to Alamo, and "Roya del Alamo" (poplar rust) which is reported to have spread during favorable seasons since 1938 to almost the entire range of the species. Insignis Pine has been subjected to several local caterpillar attacks, and scale insects and other pests and die-back of leaders have been reported. This is indicative of the dangers inherent in extensive even-aged plantations of a single species.

No epidemic insect or disease mortality was observed in the natural forest, although abnormal windfall losses were found in some areas, especially in the Provinces of Malleco and Cautín, where, on the areas sampled, 2 percent of the total saw timber stand had been blown down in a single year.

Timber Growth

A portion of the tremendous depletion suffered by Chilean forests is being replaced by tree growth. Annual growth is estimated at 730 million cubic feet or about 1,959 million board feet. This amounts to 1.1 percent of the Nation's total solid wood and sawtimber stand respectively. Rate of growth varies greatly with species; for example, Alerce, occurring mostly in large, old, overmature stands of poor vigor, is growing only at the rate of 0.3 percent of its solid wood volume annually, while Canelo is adding volume at the rate of 2.0 percent. Plantation stands, exceptionally young, vigorous and fast-growing, are adding wood at the rate of 14 percent.

Of the total solid wood growth, 85 percent is being added in the natural forest zone, 13 percent in the planted forests, and about 2 percent in the woodland zone species. About 92 percent of the annual growth on the natural forest is added to mature stands of sawtimber size, and 8 percent to second-growth forests.

The planted areas show the highest growth rates--653 cubic feet per hectare, compared with 256 cubic feet in natural second growth, and 122 cubic feet in mature sawtimber forest--but they are now at approximately maximum productivity. In contrast, the natural forest zone, now occupied by mature and overnature stands, is capable of growing wood much more rapidly than at present. Indeed, if well covered with a balarced, thrifty growing stock of native hardwoods, an average of 250 cubic feet per hectare could eventually be achieved in the natural for est. This would be considerably above the average for the hardwood forests of North America.

Forest Balance Sheet

As the figures given above indicate, Chile has a substantial inventory of timber, but it is being depleted heavily. Every year about 1,338 million cubic feet, or 3,707 million board feet, are drained from the forest, while annual growth is only 730 million cubic feet or 1,959 million board feet. Thus, the ratio of drain to growth is almost 2 to 1, resulting in a net loss of 608 million cubic feet or 1,748 million board feet each year. Obviously, if this continues, Chile's forests will be completely exhausted in 107 years and the sawtimber will be gone in 100 years.

This calculation fails to emphasize several sericus factors. The most valuable species and the better, more accessible forests in the principal producing centers are being depleted at many times the average rate. For example, in Province Group 4, Laurel and Roble sawtimber will be exhausted in 25 years, Lingue in 50 years, and Rauli in 60 years. Because of the relative inaccessibility of much of the remaining supply of these species, the situation will become critical much sooner than the figures imply. When this occurs, it will become essential to shift sawmill production to more abundant species such as Coigue and Tepa. And eventually the center of the lumber industry will doubtless migrate southward, for the theoretical life of the sawtimber supply is 150 years in Chiloé and Aysen, but only 68 years in Province Group 4.

At present, growth exceeds drain in planted forests but this picture may change when the large areas of immature stands reach merchanta

ble size and accessible timber in national forests becomes scarce. Some overcutting is actually taking place in the plantation zone, particularly in Alamo and Eucalyptus in Province Group 2 (Coquimbo to Talca).

The indicated life of the volume of woodland timber is 84 years for the country as a whole, but only 55 years for Province Group 2. The life of the accessible volume is believed to be much shorter.

Effect of Fire Protection and Forest Planting on Balance Sheet

If the current large excess of forest depletion over growth continues, stable expansion of wood - using industries, based on Chile's natural forests, will be impossible. Indeed, eventual curtailment must be faced. Fortunately, this drab outlook may be changed by controlling fire losses. The wood supply could be further increased by the use of good forestry practices, including proper timber cutting practices.

A practical system of forest protection can reduce annual fire losses to perhaps one-fifth of the current volume. If this were accomplished, it would be possible for Chile to maintain a permanent cut of sawtimber at 2-1/2 times the present level.

This conclusion is based on the assumption that the plantation area would remain practically constant. Actually, a substantial expansion--92 percent in two decades--is contemplated in the present planting If this hypothetically increased area averaged two-thirds the productivity of present plantings, the annual available yields from them would equal 196 million cubic feet, or precisely the amount now cut from all forests in Chile. In board feet the possible cut from the plantations alone would surpass the present total cut by a large margin.

In short, the natural forest lands, forest plantations, and plantable areas are, potentially, tremendously productive on a sustained yield basis. If managed effectively, they can supply Chile with an annual volume of timber products at least several times that now consumed.

How Much Timber Will Be Economically Available

It is estimated that 75,236 million board feet of timber will be available for economic exploitation in the next decade, or 43 percent of the total sawtimber volume in the country. The bulk of this, 84 percent, is in Province Group 4; 3 percent in Province Group 2 (Coquimbo to Talco); 5 percent in Province Group 3 (Maule to Bio-Bio), and 7 percent in Province Group 5 (Chiloe and Aysen).

The remaining 57 percent of the saw timber stand, found mostly in the southern Provinces, is not now regarded as profitable to cut. Several decades hence, the plantations alone may have sufficient capacity to provide the Nation's current lumber cut. As the principal plantations are accessible to the centers of demand, they will have decided advantages over much of the natural forest, especially that in Province Groups 5 (Chiloé and Aysen) and 6 (Magallanes). These southern areas might find it practically impossible to compete for the domestic market, except for the types and grades of lumber which the plantations will be unable to supply. On the other hand, the timber of the southern provinces can be readily hauled by water and this may make possible ultimate utilization of most of it, especially if a water borne foreign trade can be developed.

The employment of more efficient machinery and methods in logging, milling and hauling operations, and the development of more and better roads, .will change the picture significantly. If these trends continue, probably 90 percent of all the timber in Province Groups 2, 3, and 4 instead of approximately 62 percent, as at present, will become economically available in 20 or 30 years. If water-borne freight rates are reduced, 50 percent of the timber in Province Group 5, instead of