Protected Areas and World Heritage Programme

IUCN Management Category II, IV and IX (National Park, Reserve and Biosphere Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 8.22.05 (Chilean Araucaria Forest)

Geographical Location Conguillio-Los Paraguas is in the province of Cautin; 38°40'S, 71°42'W, Alto Bio-Bio is 120km from the city of Victoria in the province of Matteco, approximately 230km to the East of Conguillio-Los Paraguas.

Date and History of Establishment Accepted as a Biosphere Reserve in 1983. Conguillio was established under Decree 1117 of 26 May 1950 while Los Paraguas was created in 1940 (Decree 1682 of the Ministry of Lands and Colonization). Alto Bio-Bio was set up in 1912 by the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Area The Biosphere Reserve covers 81,000ha, Conguillio occupies 28,000ha, Los Paraguas 18,000ha and Alto Bio-Bio 35,000ha.

Land Tenure Fiscal except for 5%

Altitude 800-3,124m

Physical Features Situated in the Andean mountain range and including an active volcano with a double crater (which last erupted in 1957). There are vast extensions of lava and the system of lakes, lagoons and rivers are extremely scenic. Alto Bio-Bio has a high terrain with a mixture of undulating hills strongly dissected by deep canyons of glacial origin, and volcanic mountains. The climate is rigorous with precipitation close to 2800mm per year in Conguillio-Los Paraguas and 3000mm in Alto Bio-Bio. Mean annual temperature is 8.5°C and 7°C respectively.

Climate No information

Vegetation Predominantly mixed woodland of Chilean pine Araucaria araucana with four species of Nothofagus located in the transition zone. Podocarpus andinus and Austrocedrus chilensis are also found. The smaller plant species are sparce, and consist principally of Berberis sp., Chusquea sp., Ugni molinae and Festuca sp..

Fauna The fauna is of low diversity. Interesting mammals are pudu Pudu pudu, kodkod Felis guigna, puma F. concolor, guanaco Lama guanicoe and fox Dusicyon sp.. The very rare marsupial Dromiciops australis occurs within the reserve. Both the avifauna and herpetofauna are very rich due to a wide range of habitats along the altitudinal gradient of 800 to 3,100m. Among birds, the presence of Vultur gryphus, Campephilus magellanicus and Enicognathus leptorhynchus is of note.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population The Alto Bio-Bio National Reserve (buffer zone) has a pastoral population of about 20 families.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities There are possibilities for significant studies of the connection between geomorphology and vegetation. Currently the reintroduction of native animals, particularly the guanaco Lama guanicoe, is being studied. There is one centre for the study of native fauna in the park. Access to Alto Bio-Bio is difficult.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Total

No information

There is a preliminary single management plan for Los Paraguas and Conguillio which makes most of the area a primitive zone, and includes a natural recuperation zone, an intangible zone, an intensive use zone and an extensive use zone. Los Paraguas and Conguillio together provide a natural core zone, and the Alto Bio-Bio reserve constitutes a buffer.

Management Constraints There is some disturbance from neighbouring properties, and in some sectors it is relatively extensive with the outbreak of forest fires, especially in the Los Paraguas region. ENDESA is reportedly planning a large hydroelectric project which would include a dam and artificial lake.

Staff One administrator and four park guards. The biosphere reserve staff totals 11.

Budget No information

Local Addresses

Santiago Gomez L., Corporacion Nacional Forestal, IX Region, Lautaro 853 Temuco.

References

Chile Forestal (1983). Las Araucarias de Ralco-Lepui.

CONAF/FAO (1974). Management Plan of Conguillio-Los Paraguas National Park. National Forestry Corporation (internal document).

Republica de Chile, Ministerio de Agricultura (1985). Estadisticas Sobre Areas Silvestres Protegidas de Chile (1985).

Date 11 June 1981, revised July 1986