Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 85 (2): 161-169, 2012
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Forested habitat preferences by Chilean citizens: Implications for biodiversity
conservation in Pinus radiata plantations
The need for conservation outside protected areas has prompted the
modification of productive practices to allow the maintenance of wild biota in productive landscapes such as those
associated to timber production. Forest plantations could cooperate in conserving biodiversity outside protected areas if
they have a developed understory. However, the success of the production changes depends on the social support they
receive. Therefore, we evaluate Chilean citizens’ preference for five habitats of different types of forest management. In
addition, we assessed perceptions regarding the relationship between pine plantations and native wildlife through surveys
administered in Chillán, Santiago and six rural localities in the VII and VIII region. Despite there is not a unanimous
opinion regarding pine plantations as a threat to biodiversity, people prefer pine plantations that serve as habitat for
endangered fauna. In fact, they agree on paying more for forest products to contribute to conservation in forest plantations,
and actually prefer plantations with a developed understory better than those without it. This would suggest that measures
aimed at conservation in forest plantations could be supported by the Chilean society.
Key words:
Chile, habitat
evaluation, pine plantations, understory
