Ancient Giant in Chile Faces Modern Threats

Deep within the Alerce Costero National Park in Chile stands a silent sentinel, a Patagonian cypress known as Alerce Milenario, or "Great Grandfather." This ancient tree, potentially the world's oldest, faces a growing number of threats from both climate change and human activity, raising concerns about its long-term survival. While researchers study the tree to unlock secrets of the past, conservationists are working to protect it for the future.

A Living Relic

Alerce Milenario is a Fitzroya cupressoides, a species of Patagonian cypress endemic to Chile and Argentina. The tree's massive trunk, measuring over 13 feet in diameter and 196 feet tall, is estimated to be over 5,400 years old. This would make it older than Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California currently recognized as the world's oldest known living tree at approximately 4,853 years old.

Jonathan Barichivich, a Chilean environmental scientist working at the Climate and Environmental Sciences Laboratory in Paris, has led the research efforts to determine the tree's age. Due to the tree's immense size and the fragility of its root system, traditional dendrochronology, which involves extracting a core sample to count tree rings, was not feasible. Instead, Barichivich and his colleague Antonio Lara used statistical modeling based on a partial core sample and environmental data to estimate the tree's age. The partial core sample yielded approximately 2,400 growth rings.

The Alerce Milenario has become a symbol of conservation and environmental awareness, drawing tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the world. Its existence predates the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, offering a tangible link to millennia past. Researchers believe that studying the tree could reveal valuable insights into how the planet has adapted to climatic changes over thousands of years.

Threats to Survival

Despite its remarkable age and resilience, Alerce Milenario faces several threats that jeopardize its survival.

• Climate Change: Southern Chile is experiencing warmer and drier conditions due to climate change. This is disrupting the water supply to the tree, potentially leading to drought stress. A monitoring station near the tree intercepts about 50% of the rain intended for its roots, exacerbating the problem.
• Tourism: Increased tourism to the Alerce Costero National Park has led to increased foot traffic around the tree. This compacts the soil, damages the fragile root system, and makes it difficult for the tree to absorb water and nutrients. Only an estimated 28% of the tree is currently alive, primarily in the roots.
• Road Construction: A proposed highway project through the Alerce Costero National Park has raised concerns among scientists and environmentalists. The road would require the felling of hundreds of alerce trees and could lead to habitat fragmentation, increased risk of wildfires, and the introduction of invasive species. Runoff from the road could also damage the alerce trees, as the soil starts to be washed away, then the topsoil is eroded, leaving just stone.
• Logging: Although the Patagonian cypress was declared a national monument in Chile in 1976, prohibiting further logging of the species, illegal logging remains a threat. The valuable reddish wood of the alerce continues to be targeted by loggers.

Conservation Efforts

Recognizing the importance of protecting Alerce Milenario, various conservation efforts are underway.

• Restricting Access: Due to the damage caused by tourism, access to the tree is being restricted. The national forestry body has increased the number of park rangers and implemented measures to control visitor traffic.
• UNESCO World Heritage Status: Some scientists have urged the Chilean government to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for Alerce Costero National Park. This designation would provide additional resources and international recognition to support conservation efforts.
• Reforestation: Efforts are being made to reforest areas affected by logging and habitat loss. These efforts include small-scale plantations for ecological restoration.
• Community Engagement: Partnerships with local communities are strengthening stewardship and promoting a renewed pride in the area's natural heritage. The Valdivian Coastal Reserve, connected to the Alerce Costero National Park, has implemented projects to provide clean water and create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
• Carbon Credit Sales: The Valdivian Coastal Reserve's trees can store more than 800 metric tons of climate changing carbon dioxide per hectare, one of the highest rates in the world. The region became an ideal candidate for Chile's first Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) forest carbon project.

A Symbol of Resilience

Alerce Milenario stands as a symbol of resilience, having survived for thousands of years through countless environmental changes. However, the current combination of climate change and human pressures poses an unprecedented threat to its existence. The actions taken in the coming years will determine whether this ancient giant can continue to stand as a testament to the power and longevity of nature. Protecting this tree is not only crucial for preserving a unique piece of natural history but also for understanding the secrets it holds about the planet's past and future.