Composition and structure of remnant Fitzroya cupressoides forests of southern Chile's Central Depression

Recently, several populations of Fitzroya cupressoides (Mol.) Johnst. (a ra re conifer endemic to southern Chile and parts of adjacent Argentina) have been found in Chile's Central Depression, where it was thought to have been extirpated due to over-exploitation. Five of these populations exist as sm all forests (core areas less than or equal to 3 ha), where Fitzroya forms n early pure stands. We established permanent plots in each of these five sta nds, determining tree ages and recording species composition. Multivariate analyses performed on both understory and tree species composition separate d one stand from the remaining four, the differences being a function of st and ages and disturbance histories. Given their small size: and isolation ( from each other and from Fitzroya populations of the Coastal and Andean Cor dilleras), these: stands represent an extreme example of habitat fragmentat ion. A combination of conservation efforts is being undertaken to ensure th eir persistence in the Central Depression.