In Chile, this weekend a 600-year-old tree known as the Coihue Abuelo was vandalized.
The specimen, located in the Mocho Choshuenco National Reserve, in the Los Ríos Region, suffered the illegal extraction of part of its bark.
After the incident, the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) confirmed the damage to this natural monument.
It should be noted that researchers from the Austral University of Chile have been monitoring this specimen for years.
The discovery occurred on Saturday, November 29 during a routine patrol.
The park rangers discovered that someone had extracted approximately 50 centimeters high by 20 centimeters wide of the tree’s bark.
“During a patrol conducted by our park rangers from the Mocho Choshuenco National Reserve, we found damage affecting a species as significant as the Coihue Abuelo, a tree specimen around 600 years old,” stated Arnoldo Shibar, regional director of CONAF.
The Coihue Abuel tree, a 600-year-old giant in danger
The Coihue Abuelo is a specimen of Nothofagus dombeyi that inhabits the temperate rainforest of the reserve.
This centennial tree is located in one of the most visited points of the protected area.
There, tourists engage in contemplative activities and nature baths.
Cristián Álvarez, administrator of the unit, explained that the team was looking for black woodpecker nests when they detected the damage.
“A month ago it wasn’t there, so we know it’s recent damage to this specimen,” he detailed.
And he explained that “this can have serious effects due to the possible entry of pathogens into the individual”
The bark extraction in this 600-year-old tree is not superficial damage.
In trees, the bark is responsible for protecting the phloem and xylem, the vascular systems through which nutrients and water circulate.
By removing this layer, the specimen is exposed to:
- Severe physiological stress
- Entry of fungi and bacteria
- Colonization by xylophagous insects
- Compromise of its health in the long term
- Possible acceleration of its death
Sanctions for offenders
The Law 20.283 on Native Forest Recovery and Forestry Promotion in Chile explicitly sanctions the extraction of bark and damage to native species.
Fines range from 5 to 50 UTM (Monthly Tax Units) for each affected tree.
Offenders also face the confiscation of the extracted material and criminal proceedings in cases of significant damage.
In more severe situations, they may be required to reforest the affected area.
Now, the current state of this 600-year-old tree will be evaluated by specialists to determine if it requires additional protection measures.
Among them, more restrictive perimeter fences or phytosanitary treatments to seal the wound are being considered.
CONAF called on the public to safeguard and protect the natural resources in the region’s protected areas.
Visitors can immediately report to the park rangers any suspicious behavior or intervention in the native flora.
This 600-year-old tree has witnessed the natural history of Chile for six centuries.
Its conservation depends on the commitment of all visitors who come to the Mocho Choshuenco National Reserve to enjoy its unique biodiversity.
