Chile’s endemic trees

Dendroseris neriifolia is one of 40 threatened endemic species found in Chile. This species only grows in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, situated in the Pacific Ocean. Only a single specimen survives in its natural habitat in a remote ravine. Its existence represents the wider perilous situation facing many Chilean tree species, over 40 of which are now on the verge of extinction and are found nowhere else in the world.

Conservation planning workshop

To address the urgent need to develop and implement conservation actions for these unique tree species, an Integrated Conservation Planning Workshop took place in September 2024 at the University of Concepción, Chile. The workshop, organised by BGCI together with the Landscape Ecology Laboratory of the University of Concepción, was facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG). Fondation Franklinia generously funded the workshop. The workshop brought together 28 specialists from different Chilean organisations, who after five days of participatory discussions, developed an integrated conservation plan to secure the future of Chile’s threatened endemic tree species.

Conservation action plan

An executive summary of the plan outlining the process and results can be found here.  The plan will be published later this year, with a governance team who will be responsible for its implementation and monitoring.

Vision

“Chile’s endemic tree species and their habitats are conserved in an effective and integrated manner, and valued by a society committed to natural heritage, under an effective regulatory framework, with participatory and sustainable territorial governance and planning.” 

Objectives

• Objective 1: Prevent, control and eradicate the presence and impact of invasive non-native species and of pathogens
• Objective 2: Prevent and control the presence of livestock in areas of conservation importance
• Objective 3: Reduce the incidence and impact (frequency and severity) of forest fires that affect threatened species and their habitats
• Objective 4: Strengthen the actions of environmental institutions that focus on land use and planning related to endangered species and their habitats at the regional, district and community levels
• Objective 5: Educate, support and empower people and civil sector organisations in regard to the protection of endangered species and their habitats with a focus on environmental policy and land management
• Objective 6: Safeguard native forests against encroachment from, and an increase in the area of, non-native forestry species
• Objective 7: Raise awareness and engage local communities on the legal and sustainable use of natural resources associated with endangered species and their habitats
• Objective 8: Develop and implement integrated management strategies (in situ and ex situ) for threatened tree species to enhance the resilience of populations and mitigate threats
• Objective 9: Understand and reduce the impacts of climate change on endangered tree species

Progress in implementation

• A new project, funded by the Fondation Franklinia, will put this objective into practice by focusing on the strategic conservation of Legrandia concinna. This three-year initiative (2025–2027) will target the species across its native range in the Andean and pre-Andean regions of Maule and Ñuble, Chile—where it holds significant cultural and natural heritage value. 

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