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BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: Chilean Winter RainfallValdivian Forests

By Natalie Summa And fish

What Is A Hotspot?
For a region to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, two main criteria must be met: At least 70% of the regions original habitat must have been lost The region must have over 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants, which is greater than 5% of the worlds total vegetation

http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/

Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests: Is It A Hotspot?

-There are 1,957 endemic plant species (greater than 1,500) -Remaining area is 119,143 square km of the original 397,142 square km (greater than 70% decrease) Conclusion: YES.
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/chilean_forests/Pages/default.aspx

Where In the World Is This Hotspot?


Climate: Humid and foggy conditions year-round near the coast -Moist winds from the west create heavy rainfall in the mountains -Temperature stays relatively constant all year, varying from high of 62 F in summer to 45 F in the cooler winter months

Types of Ecosystems
Four types of forest ecosystems:
Deciduous forests- climate similar to Mediterranean climate
Nothofagus alpina, N.obliqua

Laurel-leaved forests- contains a variety of broadleaf evergreen trees


Laureliopsis philippiana, Alextoxicon punctatum, Euricyphia cordifolia, Myceugenia

Patagonian Andean forests- Found along the Andes mountain front, dominated by conifers
Araucaria araucana, Fitzroya cupressoider

Northern Patagonian forests- dominate the southern half of the region, vegetation includes broadleaf and conifer
Nothofagus dombeyi, Drimys winteri, Podocarpus nubigenus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdivian_temperate_rain_forests

Socio-Economic Conditions

Andean Mountain Cat


captivity -They are believed to exist only in the Andes Mountains in South America -Fewer than 2,500 are known to survive today -Efforts to preserve the cat: CONAF, a Chilean government agency responsible for the management of both national parks and forest production, has agreed to let the SCCA(Small Cat Conservation Alliance) renovate a building for the Andean Cat Conservation and Monitoring Center in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile

-None are currently held in

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_mountain_cat

Endemic Plant Species


-The forest of Coastal Central Chile is the only refuge for the endemic trees Gomortega keule and Nothofagus alessandri -The narrow strip of land is only 100km long and is disappearing at the rate of 8% per year -This loss is due to the native vegetation that is cleared for Monteray Pine plantations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_Chile

Whats Happening?

Causes:
Overgrazing, urbanization, invasive species Technology advancements (hydro-electric dams) Construction and development implemented to coastal areas to increase tourist activity Man-made forests made for the purpose of slowing erosion/soil stabilization, which fragments stands of native vegetationslows the gene flow among plant species Also acts as a barrier to many animals specific to the habitat

Whats Being Done?


12.8% of original land space is officially protected, including: national parks, reserves, monument sanctuaries the rare Araucaria trees are protected as a national monument Coastal regions are left unprotected A majority of unprotected land is privately owned, and is therefore both expensive and difficult to purchase

In 2003, the government succeeded in purchasing 60,000km of land in an open auctionmore cooperation betwen the government and the private sector is needed
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/chilean_fore sts/Pages/conservation.aspx

http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/h otspots/chilean_forests/Pages/default.aspx

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