Los Angeles Nursery Surpasses 1,300 Applications for Native Trees

More than 1,300 people applied this year to access native trees distributed from the Duqueco nursery of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) in Los Angeles, according to information provided during an activity held at the facility located in the southern sector of the commune.

The event included the distribution of 2,000 native trees to ten municipalities in the province of Concepción and allowed attendees to learn details about the operation of the arborization program and the work carried out at the nursery.

A DEMAND THAT EXCEEDS AVAILABILITY

Behind the delivery of specimens lies an application process open to municipalities, educational institutions, social organizations, and individuals, which each year receives a number of requests exceeding the availability of plants.

This was explained by Germaine Leiva, head of the Conaf Arborization Program in the Biobío province, who in a conversation with Diario La Tribuna detailed the figures recorded during the last process, in which the number of requests exceeded the availability of plants considered for distribution.

"The application period takes place during April, mainly during the first two weeks, because demand exceeds the resources we have. This year, 1,353 people applied through the website, and it was only possible to deliver specimens to the first 200 requests. Additionally, more than 200 in-person applications were recorded at our provincial office, coming from the 14 communes of the province," she explained.

The professional added that the delivery of plants not only involves the distribution of specimens but also actions aimed at promoting their proper care once they reach the various beneficiaries.

"We deliver plants to neighborhood associations, municipalities, schools, and kindergartens. We also carry out educational activities so that the community learns to care for urban trees, because it is not enough to deliver specimens or develop projects; there must also be a commitment to their maintenance and care," she stated.

THE WORK THAT BEGINS WHEN THE TREES ARE STILL SMALL

Before reaching municipalities, organizations, or individuals, the specimens go through a growth and maintenance process at the Duqueco nursery, where they are prepared for later distribution.

Roxana Torres, seasonal manager of the facility, explained that the work begins when the plants are still a few centimeters tall and require constant care to reach suitable conditions for delivery.

"The plants arrive small, some with a height of 10, 15, or 20 centimeters. Here we fertilize them, care for them, and transfer them from trays to bags to promote their growth. Once they reach the appropriate size, they are delivered for various programs and activities," she recounted.

The worker indicated that the nursery maintains a wide variety of species intended for different arborization programs.

"We maintain around 40 species, mainly native ones. Individuals, business owners, landowners, and also municipalities can apply to obtain specimens through the CONAF website," she commented.

THE SPECIMENS THAT ARRIVED IN GREATER CONCEPCIÓN

The activity held yesterday in Los Angeles involved the delivery of 2,000 native trees destined for ten municipalities included in the Atmospheric Decontamination Plans of the metropolitan area of Concepción.

The specimens correspond to sclerophyllous forest species, including quillay, maitén, and arrayán. Each municipality received 200 plants for later establishment in public and community spaces.

The benefited communes were Concepción, Coronel, Lota, Tomé, Talcahuano, San Pedro de la Paz, Hualqui, Chiguayante, Penco, and Hualpén.

The distribution is part of the measures included in the Atmospheric Decontamination Plans (PDA) applied in various communes of the region. In this context, the regional secretary of the Environment of Biobío, Mario Delannays, referred to the objective of this initiative.

"Part of these measures is to strengthen urban trees. Today (yesterday) we delivered trees to ten communes, and the best part is that these specimens contribute to the atmospheric decontamination of the communes that have an Atmospheric Decontamination Plan in the Biobío region," he stated.

According to information provided by the Regional Secretariat of the Environment of Biobío, this year's distribution allowed reaching a cumulative total of 15,596 native trees in communes subject to the PDA, achieving 78% of the goal of 20,000 specimens set for a ten-year period.

2026 Applications

1,353 requests were submitted through the Conaf web platform.

More than 200 people completed the process in person.

200 web requests received specimens.

The registration process takes place during April, mainly in the first two weeks.

Beneficiaries include individuals, municipalities, neighborhood associations, schools, and kindergartens.

Program Progress

15,596 native trees accumulated by the program in communes subject to Atmospheric Decontamination Plans.

This figure represents 78% progress toward the goal of 20,000 specimens set for a ten-year period.

Source:La Tribuna