Forests for People

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Chile: a country with forestry tradition

Gerardo Tornquist Fernández, Corporación Nacional Forestal, Chile

hilean forests, represented politically by the Ministry of

Agriculture through the National Forestry Corporation

(CONAF), cover almost 22 per cent of the national terri-

tory, while also constituting the economic, social and cultural

ambit for millions of people. By virtue of this, CONAF focuses

a significant proportion of its public activity on reinforcing and

expanding the synergy between human beings and the forest,

part of which is summarized by means of concrete examples

and actions contained in this report.” (Eduardo Vial Ruiz-Tagle,

Executive Director of the National Forestry Corporation, CONAF)

Chile and its indigenous peoples

Chile is as rich in the biodiversity of its flora and fauna as in that of

its people. The indigenous peoples live in a hugely diverse ecosys-

tem that makes up the national territory. For example, the Aymara,

Quechuan, Atacameño and Colla peoples live in the arid northern

zone, the Rapanui inhabit Easter Island, the Mapuches live in the

rainy southern zone and the Yamana and Kawaskar peoples in the

icy austral zone.

The world visions of each of these indigenous peoples

are closely linked to nature. The Pachamama of the

Aymaras, the Patta Hoyri of the Atacameños and the

Wallmapu of the Mapuches are all concepts of land

encompassing the territory with its people, animals,

vegetation, history and climate.

The relationship between the indigenous commu-

nities and nature helps to satisfy religious, spiritual,

medicinal, economic and cultural needs. However,

with the world’s development, indigenous culture has

been deteriorating. In view of this, the State resolutely

supports the restoration and conservation of nature,

as well as that of the ancestral indigenous knowledge

concerning nature, particularly with regard to the

native forest.

Chilean forestry policies

Since the 19th century, Chile’s public authorities have

maintained a concern for the well-being of the coun-

Secondary growth of lenga (

Nothofagus pumilio

) in the Trapananda National Reserve, Aysén Region

Image: Hugo Rivera, CONAF

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