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Pewen (Araucaria araucana) Sacred Forest
Southern Chilean Andes (Araucanía/Biobío); also adjacent Argentina
Chile
Active
Regional cluster
- Location
- Southern Chilean Andes (Araucanía/Biobío); also adjacent Argentina
- Coordinates
- ~38.5°S 71.5°W
- Elevation
- Andes ~900–1,800 m
- Size
- Not specified (forest landscape)
- Age / Founded
- Ancestral (Mapuche-Pewenche tradition)
- Status
- Active
- Deity & Religion
- Pewen (monkey-puzzle) revered; Mapuche-Pewenche cosmovision
- Community & Guardians
- Mapuche-Pewenche ('people of the pewen')
- Vernacular name
- Pewen forest (monkey-puzzle)
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Sacred tree; piñones (pine nuts) staple; ngillatun ceremonies
Plant species
Araucaria araucana (monkey-puzzle / pewen), endemic & endangered
Biome & fauna
Andean Araucaria–Nothofagus forest
Threats & protection
Severe Chilean deforestation; Araucaria endangered & legally protected (Natural Monument)
Source
Herrmann T.M. 2006, Biodiversity & Conservation 15:647-662