Argentina restores Araucaria forest with drone technology
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The Administración de Parques Nacionales (APN) in Argentina’s Neuquén province is working to restore 200 hectares of araucaria forest, known locally as pewen, within Lanín National Park.
A recent trial in October used drones to sow seeds across 40 hectares damaged by a 2013 fire, testing the technology before a larger-scale operation.
Park officials, members of the Mapuche community, and park rangers collaborated to transport 300 kilograms of seeds by horse to a mountain camp before the drone seeding took place. The initiative, called Proyecto Pewen, began in 2021 and combines drone technology with scientific research and traditional knowledge. Researchers established monitoring plots to assess seed density, germination rates, and plant development. The project involves several stages, including ecosystem analysis, seed collection, aerial dispersal, and ongoing monitoring to refine restoration techniques.
The forest restoration effort addresses the vulnerability of the araucaria, a long-lived tree, some exceed 1,100 years, important to both the ecosystem and the cultural heritage of the Mapuche people. The species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is protected under international agreements. The APN plans to use the results of the trial to plan further restoration work beginning in 2027.
