Characterization of the replacement processes of native vegetation by forest plantations in a lacustrine watershed in the Nahuelbuta Mountain Range, VIII Region, Chile

During great part of the present century, the northern sector of the Nahuel buta mountain range has suffered one of the most important environmental mo difications produced since the arrival of Spanish settlers: the replacement of native vegetation by forest plantations. In spite of this, at present t he evolutive characteristics of this processes are unknown. The main charac teristics of the vegetation replacement process were analyzed in a small la custrine watershed, located in the Nahuelbuta mountain range, through the u se of GIS and aerial photographs. Through time, the reduction of native veg etation cover was closely tied with the increase in reforested areas. Geogr aphically, the reforested areas advanced towards the south of the watershed , over steeper slopes displacing the remnant native forest. Finally, a conc eptual model of the replacement vegetation processes is proposed.