Biodiversity ex-situ
First ex collection -situ for
future botanical garden of the
University of Concepción
campusnaturaleza@udec.cl
Communications Team
Campus Naturaleza UdeC
Ex situ conservation of endangered species line of action of the Campus Naturaleza project of the University of Concepción
The ruil (Nothofagus alessandrii), which was once found along the Coastal Mountain Range in the Maule Region, is now reduced to just over 300 hectares. Its conservation status is endangered. Similarly, the hualo (N. glauca) and Santiago oak (N. macrocarpa) are in a vulnerable state, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This is the condition currently present in their natural habitats, from the Metropolitan Region to Biobío, of the three species of Nothofagus threatened by South America and endemic to Chile and which are now part of the first ex-situ collection, which will give rise to the future botanical garden of the University of Concepción. Ex-situ conservation (conserving species outside their natural distribution range) is one of the lines of action of the Campus Naturaleza Universidad de Concepción project, whose objective is to contribute to the persistence of these three species, currently affected by land use change, overexploitation, fires and climate change, among other factors.
The University of Concepción allocated 6 hectares in this first phase for the implementation of the future botanical garden. This territory was previously covered by a eucalyptus forest plantation, for which 3 hectares of the total were harvested between April and July of this year.
The Nothofagus species germinated in the nursery of the Forestry Institute (INFOR), after the collection of seeds, carried out throughout the natural distribution of these species. The seeds are classified from that moment on according to their origin and were planted according to that consideration, in order to ensure the traceability of the individuals (trees), among other attributes.
After planting, the Nothofagus will grow on the surfaces prepared for this purpose, within the Campus Naturaleza project. The distribution of the three species within the property was carried out according to a planting template, which represents the pattern where each plant will be established. This template follows a spatial scheme close to nature, which was generated from native reference ecosystems without intervention, investigated in field campaigns for the three species.
The planting of the first species on this surface is a milestone, as it represents various efforts that will contribute in the future to the survival of these and other endemic tree species threatened in Chile.
Ex situ conservation of nothofagus
Plantation design