Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes facts for kids

Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes (which means "Temperate Rainforests of the Austral Andes") is a special protected area in southern Chile. It was named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2007. This reserve helps protect a big part of the unique Valdivian temperate rain forest.

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

A Biosphere Reserve is a place recognized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). These areas are chosen because they have important natural environments and also show how people can live and work with nature in a good way. They are places for learning about nature, protecting plants and animals, and helping local communities.

Where is This Reserve?

The Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes reserve is located in the southern part of the Andes mountains in Chile. This region is known for its cool, wet climate, which is perfect for rainforests.

Why is This Reserve Important?

This reserve is very important because it protects a large part of the Valdivian temperate rain forest. This type of forest is rare and special because it gets a lot of rain and has many unique plants and animals. It's one of the few temperate rainforests left in the world.

Threatened Trees in the Forest

Some of the trees found in this reserve are considered threatened. This means they are at risk of disappearing if they are not protected. Three important tree species listed by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) are:

• Fitzroya cupressoides: This is a very old and tall tree, sometimes called the Patagonian cypress.
• Araucaria araucana: Also known as the monkey puzzle tree, it has unique, scale-like leaves.
• Pilgerodendron uviferum: This tree is often called the Chilean cedar.

CITES is an international agreement that helps make sure that trading wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Protected Areas Inside the Reserve

The Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes Biosphere Reserve includes several national parks and reserves. These smaller protected areas work together to keep the forest safe. They include:

• Villarrica National Park (part of it)
• Puyehue National Park
• Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
• Alerce Andino National Park
• Hornopirén National Park
• Mocho-Choshuenco National Reserve
• Llanquihue National Reserve
• Futaleufú National Reserve

These parks and reserves are like different puzzle pieces that fit together to form the larger Biosphere Reserve, ensuring a wide range of habitats and species are protected.

See also

In Spanish: Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes para niños