This semester in Applied Plant Ecology, we were told to find an article about the monkey-puzzle tree. I stumbled on an article called, Indigenous resources rights and conservation of the monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana Aruaycariaceae): a case study from southern Chile. The monkey-puzzle tree is also known as the Araucaria araucana, a natural monument. For those of you wondering what the monkey-puzzle tree is, it is Cile pine that has been named the monkey-puzzle tree since even monkeys have a hard to figure out how to climb the spiralling branches of the tree. The article I selected for this course is written by David L. Aagesen and focuses on indigenous land rights and environmental conservation. The monkey-puzzle tree is native to the temperate forests of Argentina and Chile. This conifer is economically and culturally significant. The Araucanos is an indigenous group in Chile that uses the tree’s seeds as the primary food source. The monkey-puzzle tree also produces high-quality and valuable wood, which is in high demand in the timber industry. The monkey-puzzle tree has declined significantly in its natural range throughout the years. This has led researchers to find an effective and sustainable solution to manage the monkey-puzzle tree.
One of the primary anthropogenic threats to the monkey-puzzle trees has been the timber harvest, which has caused significant damage to this species. The Araucano tradition uses these trees to collect seeds, create homes and fires, help heal wounds and headaches, and other health problems. They are very connected with the tree and think of the monkey-puzzle tree as a family member. However, the Aracanos have also caused damage to the species through fire damage. The Araucano intentionally started fires to get rid of undergrowth, which has also significantly caused harm to the monkey-puzzle tree. Also, the Araucano have forcefully removed seeds from cones, which alters the natural regeneration process. These factors played a role in the researchers’ conclusion that the Araucanos must protect the area since their methods are not sustainable for the species. Researchers state that the Araucano can cause further damage to the environment through using wood, burning undergrowth, forcefully removing seeds, and cultivating of land. All these factors harm the protected area of the Ralco National Reserve. Researchers suggest that creating distance between the land and the Araucano will help improve the sustainability of the monkey-puzzle tree. This is an interesting insight into the relationship between the Indigenous people and land.
Reference:
| Aagesen, D. L. (1998). Indigenous resource rights and conservation of the monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana, Araucariaceae): a case study from southern Chile. Economic Botany, 52(2), 146-160. |
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 