Abstract

Understanding the development of the forest industry in south-central Chile and the territorial, socio-environmental, and economic consequences of this industry is a topic of growing interest. The plantation of fast-growing exotic tree species has become the fundamental niche for the development of the forestry business, rapidly decreasing the native forest cover. Analyzing the Chilean forest legislation that has favored this process, introducing exotic species within the concept of forest, is the objective of this work. We seek to understand how the concept of "forest" has been used in Chilean forest legislation, evidencing rationalities, disputes and tensions in its normative expressions, and producing profound changes in the territory. © 2024, Universidad de Concepcion. All rights reserved.