Araucaria forests in Chile face critical risk by 2060

A study led by the University of Chile warns that Chile’s Araucaria forests could reach a critical danger status by 2060 due to climate change. The research, published in the Journal of Environmental Management, indicates that these ecosystems have already lost more than 74% of their historical surface area.

Researchers led by Alberto Alaniz analyzed four distinct Araucaria ecosystems: three located in the Andean zone between the La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions, and one in the Nahuelbuta coastal range. The findings suggest that the coastal forests of Nahuelbuta face the most extreme scenario, potentially losing all environmental conditions required for their viability.

The investigation utilized satellite indicators to monitor water availability, plant transpiration, and canopy cover, while reconstructing forest history dating back to 1750. The study highlights that climate-driven changes in temperature and precipitation are accelerating the risk of total ecosystem collapse.