Northern hemisphere pines grow four times faster in Patagonia

A study published in the journal Nature reveals that northern hemisphere pine species planted in Argentina and Chile grow up to four times faster and exhibit higher drought resistance than in their native habitats. Researchers from the INIBIOMA Institute of CONICET and the Universidad Nacional del Comahue analyzed over 65,000 growth rings across 192 sites in ten countries to reach these conclusions.

The accelerated growth is attributed to the absence of specialized pests, pathogens, and herbivores found in the pines' original environments. By not allocating energy to biological defenses, these trees can direct nutrients toward rapid development and accumulate higher reserves of sugars and starches, allowing for continued photosynthesis during intense droughts.

In the Patagonia region, the study compared native Nothofagus forests with introduced commercial species such as Pinus contorta and Pinus ponderosa. While the exotic pines grow faster and manage drought more effectively, scientists warn that these species are not a viable solution for climate change or carbon capture, noting the urgent need to protect native flora.