Abstract

In the semiarid Coquimbo Region, Chile, Acacia saligna is used particularly where reforestation has been promoted with the objective of recovery of degraded soils, production of fodder for livestock, fuel wood and control erosion. This exotic species also has potential use as an important source of human food, because the seeds of the trees could be harvested and processed for the production of breads and biscuits with nutraceutical properties. Prosopis is another genus, six members of which are common in Chile; they are adapted to areas with very low rainfall, infertile soils, and high variations between day and night temperatures. Because of their exceptional adaptability to such difficult conditions where most other species do not survive, Prosopis spp. are an important resource for the local peasants and indigenous communities, providing them with food and shelter for their livestock.