CHILE – In the last four years, ARAUCO’s Forestry business area, which manages forestland that is distributed throughout the VI and X Regions of Chile, has substantially increased the areas set aside for conservation, from 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) to almost 60,000 (148,263 acres), which have been designated as High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA’s). 

This extension includes 37 biological areas and 69 cultural interest sites, whose identification and management are conducted under the guidelines and methods promoted by the High Conservation Value Network and PROFOREST.

Protection and conservation values are determined based on these guidelines, which cover cultural and religious aspects, community services and flora and fauna. Activities to prevent illegal harvesting, hunting and wildfires are conducted at these HCVA’s and a record of sightings of threatened flora and fauna is kept in the Forestland Information System.

Native ecosystems present in the forestland contain species that are included in the Red Book of Chilean Land Flora, the Red Book of Chilean Land Vertebrates, the Species Classification Regulation categories, the National Museum of Natural History Bulletin and the Hunting Law, among others.

In addition, monitoring activities have been implemented to survey and verify the conservation state of flora and fauna species present in the company’s forestland. These activities are conducted with the help of community members.