1. The Espinal: a sustainable
productive alternative for Interior
Dry land Development of Central
Mediterranean area of Chile
ALEJANDRO LUCERO IGNAMARCA
INSTITUTO FORESTAL SEDE BIO BÍO

2. CHILE
This long and narrow strip of
land known as Chile, is located
on the southwest side of South
America.
It has an area of ​75.6 million
hectares.
With a population of 17 million
people.
Concepcion

3. CHILE
This long and narrow strip of
land known as Chile, is located
on the southwest side of South
America.
It has an area of ​75.6 million
hectares.
With a population of 17 million
people.
Concepcion
With
a
marked
climatic
variety, which starts with the
arid zones in the north
(Atacama Desert) until the
rainy and cold areas in the
south (Patagonia).

4. CHILE
Distribution of soils in Chile
(75.6 million ha)
45 %
Forest
37 %
Protection
11 %
Prairies
7 %
Source: INFOR (Forest Institut)
Agriculture

5. CHILE
The forest resource is composed of 2.4 million hectares of forest
plantations and 13.1 million hectares of native forest. The Espinal is
located within the surface native forest.

6. INTRODUCTION

The Espinal, is a steppe of native vegetation
formations, with a tree component consists mainly of the
species Acacia caven (Espino).

7. INTRODUCTION

Acacia caven is a multipurpose legume specie, and provides
different products and different functions within the Espinal.

Mainly has positive effects on the prairie and upon microclimatic variables.

But despite these important characteristics, Espinal has been
heavily intervened for agricultural purposes, causing their
degradation.

8. The Espinal

Inside Chile, the Espinal is located
from the Region of Coquimbo in the
north, to the region of Bio Bio in the
south.

It covers an area of ​3.8 million
hectares.

The Espinal are important in this
area, because it is present in farms
majority owned for small and medium
farms in the central zone, where the
economy and production is for
agricultural purposes.

9. Effects of Espino in the
Prairie
 Generates positive effects on the composition, distribution and
prairie production, improving diversity and increasing production.
Prairie with presence of
Espino
Degraded prairie without the
presence of Espino

10. Effects of Espino in the
Livestock
 The Espino creates better conditions for livestock (protection
against heat and cold), increases survival and weight, and provides
fodder for livestock through the tender shoots.
Note: It is necessary to consider that the overuse, can profoundly alter the
improved prairie.

11. Effects of Espino in the
Soil
 Contributes to nutrient cycling through nitrogen fixation, adds
organic matter to the soil, reduces the extreme temperatures and
enables increased availability of moisture, creating better soil and
better development of the system.

12. Productive uses of Espino
 Principal use as firewood and charcoal.
 For recovery and soil conservation

13. Productive uses of Espino
 Principal use as firewood and charcoal.
 For recovery and soil conservation.
 Fruits and seeds for the production of flour.
Cosmetics, ornamental and medicinal uses.

14. Productive uses of Espino
 Principal use as firewood and charcoal.
 For recovery and soil conservation.
 Fruits and seeds for the production of flour.
 Cosmetics, ornamental and medicinal uses.
 Espino, as arboreal component of a silvopastoral system.

15. Conclusion
 Formations with Acacia caven generate high interest in the scientific
community, which can be explained by the high impact that Espino has on
traditional resource and environmental production in the dry land areas of
central Chile.
 It can be considered as one of the most important resources in the semi
arid zone of Chile, that provides with their protection and products to
traditional peasant agriculture, and social and environmental sustainability
for these owners.
 The formations with Acacia caven has the status of native forest, and is
regulated by the Native Forest Law currently in force in Chile, being subject
of bonuses and regulations regarding their use, maintenance and
preservation.

16. Conclusion
 Nowadays, there are forest management plans to manage this resource
according the currently law, but forest management plans are not being clear
enough if these indications are technically optimal for the development and
maintenance of the resource as a Sustainable Agroforestry Systems.
It requires a global analysis of silvopastoral systems in Espinal where pasture
production, livestock and tree products is optimal, giving viability resilience of
forest resources and the sustainability of farms.

17. THANKS YOU
ALEJANDRO LUCERO IGNAMARCA
alucero@infor.cl