Abstract

In Chile, indigenous forests (mostly Nothofagus sp. and Acacia caven) and plantations of fast-growing exotic species cover 13.5 and 2.4 million ha, respectively. The latter consists principally of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus sp., but also include cherry (Prunus avium), poplar (Populus sp.), and walnut (Juglans regia). The main silvopastoral systems that have been established in the temperate zone of the country, excluding arid, semiarid and Patagonian regions, are in: (1) an old Nothofagus forest in the foothills of the Andes, (2) a second-growth “Roble” (Nothofagus obliqua) forests of the Andes, with the objectives of rejuvenating the over-mature forests, and evaluating the quantity and quality of pasture that is sown under different tree coverages. The Pinus radiata-based silvopastoral systems are the most common system adopted by smallscale agroforestry producers in the Mediterranean Chile in diverse environments from semiarid to humid zones. Furthermore, because of the expanding markets for pine nuts and timber of several hardwood species, several experimental trials were established in the past 20 years between the Valparaiso and Los Lagos regions, including exotic species such as cherry, walnut, poplar and stone pine (Pinus pinea). Through regular income from the sale of diverse woody and non-woody forest products, these innovative silvopastoral systems help improve the quality of life and wellbeing of small farm owners in temperate Chile.