Para construir, comerciar y ¿proteger? La explotación del bosque caducifolio del llano en el antiguo departamento de Imperial (Región de la Araucanía), 1867 -1920
Para construir, comerciar y ¿proteger? La explotación del bosque caducifolio del llano en el antiguo departamento de Imperial (Región de la Araucanía), 1867 -1920
Authors
González Marilicán, Matías
Torrejón Godoy, Fernando
Torrejón Godoy, Fernando
Authors
Date
2020
Datos de publicación:
Historia, Vol. 53, N° 2, 477-519, 2020
Keywords
Historia ambiental - Tala maderera - Siglo XIX
Collections
Abstract
Se analizó por primera vez el proceso de explotación maderera en el departamento de Imperial entre los años de 1867 y 1920, tomando en cuenta las causas de dicha explotación, la forma en que se extrajo la madera, y las consecuencias ambientales de esta actividad. Para ello se examinaron fuentes primarias (escritos de viajeros, funcionarios de gobierno y naturalistas, entre otras) y fuentes secundarias (principalmente estudios de tipo histórico, arqueológico y paleoambientales). Los resultados muestran que: i) el bosque caducifolio fue explotado por motivos constructivos, ideológicos y mercantiles, ii) la madera se extrajo mediante técnicas tradicionales, como a pulso y con la ayuda de bueyes, iii) la destrucción del bosque conllevó a la pérdida de biodiversidad, a cambios micro-climáticos y a crecidas inusuales de los ríos, producto de la sedimentación de sus cauces, como resultado de la deforestación.
The timber exploitation in the department of Imperial between 1867 and 1920 is analysed for the first time, taking into account the causes of this exploitation, the form in which the wood was harvested, and the environmental consequences of this activity. Primary sources (records and writings from travellers, government officials and naturalists, among others) and secondary sources (primarily historical, archaeological, and paleo-environmental studies) were analysed for this purpose. The results show that i) the forest was exploited due to constructive, ideological, and profit related motives, ii) the wood was extracted using traditional methods, for example, by hand and with the aid of oxen, and iii) the destruction of the forest lead to the loss of biodiversity, to micro-climatic changes and to the unusual flooding of rivers, due to riverbed silting, as a result of the deforestation.
The timber exploitation in the department of Imperial between 1867 and 1920 is analysed for the first time, taking into account the causes of this exploitation, the form in which the wood was harvested, and the environmental consequences of this activity. Primary sources (records and writings from travellers, government officials and naturalists, among others) and secondary sources (primarily historical, archaeological, and paleo-environmental studies) were analysed for this purpose. The results show that i) the forest was exploited due to constructive, ideological, and profit related motives, ii) the wood was extracted using traditional methods, for example, by hand and with the aid of oxen, and iii) the destruction of the forest lead to the loss of biodiversity, to micro-climatic changes and to the unusual flooding of rivers, due to riverbed silting, as a result of the deforestation.