Scientific Advance in Water Management: UACh and Forestal Mininco Renew Agreement
The Austral University of Chile (UACh) and Forestal Mininco SpA have renewed their collaboration commitment until 2027, in order to continue the "Water Balance of Watersheds Project", a research initiative that has remained active since 2007.
Dr. Andrés Iroumé, principal investigator of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources at UACh, leads this effort that seeks to understand the influence of forest management on water resources.
The agreement stands out for its focus on the response of experimental watersheds to forest management, evaluating critical aspects such as water flows, availability, and quality. "This agreement reflects the joint work between the company's requirements to generate knowledge and the capabilities we have developed as the Hydromorphology Laboratory," stated Dr. Iroumé.
Forestal Mininco SpA contributes with equipment and infrastructure, while the UACh team is responsible for data analysis and the generation of reports and scientific articles. This collaborative work not only drives research but also allows the company to improve its forest practices and operations.
The project aligns with previous research funded by Fondecyt, including Dr. Iroumé's current study on wildfire-induced changes in the connectivity and transport of water and sediments in forested watersheds.
Additionally, the agreement has been a pillar for academic training, supporting numerous undergraduate, master's, and doctoral theses. Among these, research on the relationship between forest productivity, hydrological flows, and biodiversity stands out, as well as the effects of forest operations on watershed morphology.
Matías Pincheira, Forest Resources Management researcher at CMPC, technically supervises these studies, which have a direct impact on forest resource management in Chile, Brazil, and Argentina.
The research team plans to deliver a progress report in December 2025 at the Forestal Mininco SpA facilities in Los Ángeles, marking another milestone in this fruitful collaboration.
