Malalcahuello recovers its forestry heritage with the inauguration of a new memory space

The locality of Malalcahuello, in the commune of Curacautín, has a new space dedicated to rescuing its history and highlighting the legacy of the timber activity. This is the Malalcahuello Forest Memory House and Community Station, inaugurated in the administrative sector of the Malalcahuello National Reserve, following the restoration of an old construction linked to the sawmill that operated in the area during the 20th century.

The project seeks to preserve the testimonies of forestry workers and of the families that contributed to the development of this mountain territory, in addition to strengthening the local cultural and tourist offering. The recovery of the building had the contribution of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), the Nautilus Foundation and Nautical Museum, and the collaboration of the community.

During the inauguration, the regional director of Conaf, Héctor Tillería, highlighted the historical relevance of forestry activity for the growth of mountain localities, its relationship with the construction of the railway and job creation. He also noted that the new space will make it possible to offer an alternative of interest for visitors and to keep present the link between regional history and the timber sector.

The authority also emphasized the changes that the relationship with forest resources has undergone, taking as an example the protection of the araucaria (Araucaria araucana). The species was declared a Natural Monument in 1976 and, later, in 1990, Supreme Decree No. 43 of the Ministry of Agriculture established the prohibition of its felling and exploitation throughout the country.

In that line, Tillería stated that the initiative will make it possible to remember the forestry past and, at the same time, highlight the current value of forests and protected areas. He added that forestry activity continues to be relevant for La Araucanía and that this space will contribute to transmitting that history to new generations.

For his part, the regional minister of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Samir Manukian, valued the recovery of the building as a contribution to the region's human and railway heritage. He also highlighted the joint work between public institutions, private actors and residents of Malalcahuello, whose participation made it possible to rescue historical pieces and shape a space representative of local identity.

The restoration also has a special meaning for those who were directly linked to the old sawmill. Sonia Erices, a resident of the locality, expressed her emotion at seeing recovered the building where her husband worked and which, over time, had suffered significant deterioration. For her, its transformation into a museum represents an opportunity to preserve family and community memories.

With its opening, the Malalcahuello Forest Memory House and Community Station seeks to consolidate itself as a meeting point for residents and a new heritage attraction for those who visit the area. The initiative makes it possible to recognize the contribution of forestry workers to mountain development and to reflect on the evolution of the timber activity and the importance of conserving the ecosystems that are part of the history of La Araucanía.