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Committee Promotes Clean Production in Native Forests of Southern Chile

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In an effort to reverse the ecological deterioration of native forests in southern Chile, a negotiating committee was formed in Lanco to advance a clean production agreement (APL).

This APL, titled "Collaboration for Sustainable Production, Marketing, and Value-Added Processing of Native Forest Products Under Forest Management Criteria," aims to improve the management of approximately nine thousand hectares of native forest between the Los Ríos and La Araucanía regions.

The initiative arises in response to decades of overexploitation and inadequate management that have led to the degradation of these ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and natural regeneration capacity. The APL seeks not only to enhance the environmental performance of the forests but also to strengthen marketing and productive diversification, thereby benefiting local communities and the environment.

The committee's first session included representatives from government agencies, climate change organizations, forestry groups, academics, and private-sector members. During a field visit, the benefits of forest management were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among different entities for the project's success.

Sebastián Carvallo, Deputy Director of CORFO's Sustainability and Climate Change Agency, emphasized the APL's relevance for sustainable native forest management and the development of a sustainable market. Marco Flores, Acting Regional Director of Conaf Los Ríos, noted the APL's alignment with national strategies and international commitments on climate change and forest conservation.

This committee represents an opportunity to advance collaborative governance of native forests, with the potential to establish a production and marketing model that respects and promotes environmental sustainability.