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Ricardo González, Academic at the University of La Frontera and the Challenge of Conserving Native Forests

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In "Conversando con la Acoforag," Ricardo González, a Natural Resource and Environmental Economist and academic at the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of La Frontera, addressed the complex situation of native forests in Chile.

He highlighted that a large portion of native forests is protected by national parks and reserves. However, another significant portion is in the hands of private owners, primarily farmers who divide their lands among agricultural, livestock, and forestry activities. "For owners who exclusively possess native forests, the situation is critical, as profiting or subsisting solely from native forests is extremely difficult under current restrictions," he explained.

An Economy Based on Firewood and Charcoal

Most of these owners rely on firewood and charcoal as their only sources of income, especially in cases where forests have been degraded or consist of shrublands attempting to recover. In contrast, owners of mature and well-preserved native forests have the possibility of managing these areas for sawlog production, though this involves a long-term management process.

González also emphasized that environmental restrictions, focused more on preservation than active conservation, hinder the development of sustainable economic activities linked to native forests. "The future is not optimistic if these issues are not addressed," he warned.

The Market Failure in Native Forests

One of the main barriers to conservation is the so-called "market failure." Native forests generate goods like timber and firewood, which have market value. But they also provide key ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and habitat for wildlife, which lack direct monetary value. This creates an economic imbalance for landowners.

"The owner receives no economic compensation for these ecosystem services," González explained. "This means they produce more benefits than they can capitalize on, which discourages investment in conservation." Additionally, alternative activities, such as ecotourism, only offer marginal income for most owners.

The Need for Economic Compensation

The solution, according to the economist, lies in implementing economic compensation mechanisms for owners who conserve their forests. "In rural areas, owners demand compensation for the services their forests provide to society," González noted. From an economic perspective, this could translate into public policies that remunerate these services or incentivize sustainable practices.

A Call to Action

The expert, also an associate researcher at the National Center for Wood Excellence at the Pontificia Universidad Católica, concluded with a call to rethink conservation strategies. "It is crucial to balance environmental preservation with the economic needs of landowners. Without proper incentives, the degradation of native forests will continue to be a reality," he stated.

The full interview is available on Acoforag's YouTube channel: