Chile: A country of sustainable forests

The strength of the Chilean forestry sector is based on the fact that over the years it has increased forest cover – both native forest and plantations – in a way seen in few countries around the world.

Chile has a total surface area of 75.6 million hectares; 22.9% of this area is covered with forests, 81.4% of it being native forest. Tree plantations in Chile occupy an area of 2.9 million hectares (equivalent to 4% of the country) consisting, mainly, of pine (Pinus radiata) and eucalyptus. The annual wood harvest totals 40 million cubic meters, 98% of it from forestations and reforestation.

Chile has made great efforts to establish a cost-effective timber-forest industry, and it has reinforced its position as a leader in SUSTAINABLE forest management. Forest plantations have contributed towards the solution of two major environmental issues of today: the greenhouse gas effect and erosion.

The Chilean forestry sector has the internationally recognized certification necessary for exports, which provides guarantees to foreign and domestic consumers alike. 1.6 million hectares out of the 2.9 million hectares of planted forests in Chile are certified under FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or the PEFC-endorsed CERTFOR scheme (70% of the total); 104 companies have certified product traceability under chain-of-custody forestry certification; and 84% of the planted forests have been established in areas with bare soils with different degrees of erosion, so native forests have not been threatened.

Chilean forestry industry exports worldwide (Excluding cellulose)

Source: Developed by the Trade information department using Central Bank data as of 4 February 2016

Chilean forestry industry exports to China (Excluding cellulose)

Source: Developed by the Trade information department using Central Bank data as of 4 February 2016

Chilean wood: Sustainable wood

For an international market increasingly aware of sustainability issues, Chile’s wood supply constitutes a perfect match for responsible procurement.

98% of Chile’s industrial wood comes from man-made forest plantations.

70% + of the resources from Chile plantations are double certified with PEFC and/or FSC (chain-of-custody and/or forestry stewardship).

Non-certified wood entering the supply chain is assessed under the protocols of both standards regarding wood from non-controversial sources.

Chilean wood: Products for the world

Significant foreign sales growth in recent years and the constant development of a wide range of quality export products speak to the great strides made by this industry.

Leading wood products:

• Sawn lumber
• Planed lumber
• Mouldings
• Doors, windows & frames
• Boards, panels and veneers
• Parts manufacturing for wood carpentry

Highlights: Chilean native woods

• Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio): also known as Lenga beech, is considered around the world to be wood with excellent characteristics for the furniture maker’s job, such as carving, gluing, developing profiles, staining and finishing.
• Coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi): also known as Dombey’s southern beech and coihue, is excellent for all types of major constructions, including bridges, quays, wood ponds, etc. Because it is hard, it is suitable for floors, parquet, tabletops and in cooperage and furniture making.
• Tineo (Weinmannia Trichosperma): This is used for good-quality parquet, floors, windows, doors, exterior and interior cladding, joists for houses, partition walls, staircases, railway sleepers, props for the mining industry, veneers, furniture, posts for boats, wheels, in handicrafts and for building stables and sheds.
• Roble (Nothofagus Obliqua): also known as Patagonian oak or roble beech, this is used in building and bridge structures, for sleepers, streetlamps, fence posts, structures and decks for boats, as well as in carpentry and cabinetmaking.
• Raulí (Nothofagus alpina): This is used in many different ways in furniture making and all kinds of buildings, doors, roof shingles, veneers, carvings, for boats, turnery, handicrafts and in many other ways and so has been worked extensively.

Companies in the Chilean Booth

Download catalogue