Nothofagus antarctica

Chilean temperate forests have experienced a long history of destruction and are currently threatened by land-use changes and mismanagement. Furthermore, the strong biogeographic isolation of the southern temperate forest heavily restricts the possibilities of recolonisation after habitat destruction or sudden climate change (Armesto et al. 1998). Many of these forests are close to human populations and the gentle terrain allows these forests to be accessible. Nothofagus antarctica falls into various forest types as well as reaching a huge altitude range between 0 – 2,000 m; it is therefore a species which can easily receive disturbance from these factors (Heilmayr et al. 2016). This is seen in the Lenga forest type (with N. pumilo) which is represented by extensive areas of old growth and secondary growth forest (C. Echeverría pers. comm 2018 based on CONAF 2018). As this species occurs at high altitude it is at reduced risk from the expansion of plantations. Instead, the greatest threat to the species is logging for firewood, grazing and fires.

According to BGCI Plant Search (2017), two sites worldwide are cultivating this species. The species occurrence within protected areas requires confirmation.