Low Intensity Breeding of Native Forest Trees in Argentina

Pewen, Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch (also known as monkey puzzle tree),is a dioecious large-seeded emergent conifer endemic to the northern region of thetemperate forests of Argentina and Chile. The species integrates the Araucariaceaefamily, with an ancient origin in the Triassic (ca. 250 My BP), being the only oneamong the 19 species of the taxa which lives in temperate climate Araucaria araucana is currently at risk of extinction (Farjon and Page 1999),included in the Appendix I of CITES (http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml) and listed in the 2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (http://www.iucnredlist.org) as an endangered species. Although currently protected in bothcountries, the species was overexploited for its timber of extraordinary value. Itshigh morphic coeffcient (> 0.80) and the basic density of its wood (0.50-0.60)(CONAF 2013), appropriate for the industry, were the two main reasons for itsexploitation. However, the threat is increased given its restricted distribution, slowgrowth and limited dispersal ability and mainly because of its poor regeneration andcontinued decline due to diverse anthropogenic causes, such as fres, seed harvest,overgrazing and exotic wild mammal invasions (Gallo et al. 2004a; Sanguinetti2008; Premoli et al. 2013; Mundo et al. 2013; Tella et al. 2016). In addition, thespecies is recently going through a general decay expressed as foliar damage inbranches and crowns, causing sometimes the death of the tree (Saavedra and Willhite2017; Vélez et al. 2018).Pewen trees can reach a height of 50 m, a diameter of 2 m and ages of up to1000 years (Aguilera-Betti et al. 2017). Young trees develop a pyramidal form,while matures often lose lower branches, giving the tree an umbrella-like shape withthe distal part of the branches upwards oriented ("Pewen" in the Mapuche languagemeans "the one who looks at the sky") (Fig. 7.1). It is a dioecious tree; male conesare 8-12 cm long and female cones 15-20 cm in diameter containing 120-180 seedsof 4-5 cm long (Fig. 7.1) (Gut 2008). Pewen has exceptional cultural and economicrelevance (Aagesen 1998) and is considered sacred by the Mapuche Pewenche people (Herrmann 2006). The edible seed is a pine nut (locally called piñón) and haslong been a major element of the diet of the Mapuche Pewenche communities livingin and around its natural distribution range (Aagesen 1998). Seeds are also used tofeed livestock and constitute a family income when selling and/or exchanging themfor food (Herrmann 2006), also as processed products (Cortés et al. 2019). Themanagement of seed collection performed by the Mapuche people involves sociocultural ancestral knowledge, but the economic market pressure for this non-timberforest product and the new assemblage of wild non-native seed feeders creates anovel and more complex socioeconomic and environmental scenario forconservation.