Translated from original article published by GloNi:
Large forestry companies like Arauco (Angelini Group) and CMPC (Matte Group) are seeking to expand monoculture forest plantations in the country. One of their lesser-known strategies is the genetic modification of eucalyptus and pine varieties to make them more tolerant to cold, drought, and high altitude. These hybrid varieties pose a serious threat to ecosystems and communities in a country that already has more than 3 million hectares of pine and eucalyptus monocultures, which have caused water scarcity, the spread of mega-forest fires, and loss of biodiversity, among other problems. Source: Resumen, August 29, 2025
Read full article in Spanish here.
In late 2024, an international delegation from the Global Justice Ecology Project visited Chile. One of their objectives was to raise awareness about the dangers of the spread of genetically modified trees in the country. Anne Petermann, the organization’s executive director, stated during her visit that “genetically modified trees are a threat to Chile and the world, as they represent the rapid expansion of monoculture forestry with a series of impacts that have not been properly studied.”
The introduction of these new varieties could generate unforeseen impacts, exacerbating the existing problems of the Chilean forestry model. These include an increased risk of mega-forest fires, water scarcity due to high water consumption, loss of biodiversity, clear-cutting, pollution from pulp mills, and various conflicts with rural, urban, and Mapuche communities.
