Ecosystem-based landscape planning and management of southern temperate forests

Abstract

The southern temperate forests of South America are complex socio-ecological systems shaped by both natural disturbances and a long history of human use. This chapter examines the evolution of forest management in northern Patagonia, from indigenous practices and European colonization to recent management, conservation, and restoration policies. It discusses the biophysical and socio-economic factors that influence forest productivity, regeneration dynamics, and the increasing pressures from grazing, tourism, and urban expansion. Silvicultural recommendations are presetend for key forest species Austrocedrus chilensis (Ciprés), Nothofagus dombeyi (Coihue), N. pumilio (Lenga), and N. antarctica (Ñire), with particular emphasis on management strategies that balance timber production, biodiversity conservation, and wildfire risk reduction. The chapter highlights institutional and economic challenges for implementing ecosystem-based landscape planning, while identifying opportunities linked to carbon markets, non-timber forest products, and the emerging bioeconomy. Finally, interhemispheric comparisons underscore the need for adaptive management approaches that integrate restoration, sustainable use, and climate change mitigation.