Conservation status of ciprés de las Guaitecas (Pilgerodendron uviferum (Don) Florín) in Argentina

Abstract

Pilgerodendron uviferum (Don) Flor., Cupressaceae (common name "ciprés de las Guaitecas") is the native conifer with the widest geographic range in the temperate forests in southern South America, particularly when compared with its only two close relatives, Austrocedrus chilensis ((Don) Florin et Boutleje) and Fitzroya cupressoides ((Mol.) Johnst.). In Argentina, Pilgerodendron is restricted to a small number of isolated populations along its distribution. This study analyzes the conservation status of known Pilgerodendron populations in Argentina, based on information about the physical characteristics of the habitats, vegetation and disturbance types in eight different locations. The majority of the studied populations are protected within national parks, where they are generally restricted to waterlogged sites, and they consist of small groups of individual trees and not continuous forests. At some of the locations, signs of human-induced disturbances were observed, mainly logging or browsing by cattle. This was the case for the Cordón Serrucho population, which is not currently included in any protected area. Adequate strategies for a better preservation and restoration of degraded Pilgerodendron populations include cattle grazing exclusion and the creation of a protected area.