Limited research exists on wood properties in E. nitens × E. globulus hybrid genotypes grown in water-limited conditions generated by the climate change influence in Mediterranean areas. The EUCAHYDRO project aimed to assess environmental stress impacts on eucalyptus genotypes, including responses to reduced water availability, and to evaluate wood density and resistance using the non-destructive drill resistance technique. This study focused on 10-year-old E. nitens × E. globulus hybrids and Eucalyptus badjensis Beuzev. & Welch, revealing that low irrigation led to a 13% (p < 0.05) decrease in diameter and a 6.5% (p > 0.05) increase in wood density for the hybrids. On the contrary, E. badjensis demonstrated a noteworthy 22% increase in wood density (p < 0.05), while showing a corresponding 0.6% growth increase (p > 0.05), as measured by the diameter at breast height. Drill resistance measurement results indicated that E. nitens × E. globulus’ amplitude ranged from 20.1% to 26.6%, while E. badjensis’ ranged from 20.8% to 27.2%. The study revealed a high correlation between resistance amplitude and wood density, with coefficients of 0.97 observed for E. nitens × E. globulus and 0.84 for E. badjensis (p < 0.05). These findings fall within the range reported in similar studies involving Eucalyptus spp. The primary focus of the research was to assess the growth potential and wood quality of novel Eucalyptus spp. under conditions of water limitation. The study also explored the utility of drill resistance as a predictive measure for evaluating wood density as an indicator of wood quality.

A Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) assessment was evaluated comparing three harvesting systems on intensively managed Pinus radiata (radiata pine) plantations growing in the Biobío Region, Chile. Evaluated systems considered semi-mechanized, mechanized, and tower logging in steep slope forest operations. Our LCA study focused on CO₂e emissions from six harvesting activities: felling, logging, processing, sorting, loading, and transportation, all under the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The average and maximum monthly production scenarios were the highest for the semi-mechanized system with 24 and 25.2 kg CO₂e m⁻³, followed by the tower logging with 23.2 and 24.5 kg CO₂e m⁻³ and, lastly, the mechanized system with 11 and 12.1 kg CO₂e m⁻³. Similar to other studies, harvesting phases that contributed the most were logging, loading and transport. Concerning LCA stages, forest equipment operation generated the highest CO₂e level across the three harvesting systems where fuel consumption was the activity that contributed with 76% of CO₂e for the mechanized system, and 50% in the case of the tower logging and semi-mechanized systems. The mechanized system had the highest fuel use efficiency and the lowest CO₂e emissions.

Pinus radiata D. Don is the most widely planted forest species in Chile, making it crucial to understand carbon pools in adult plantations. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of soil type and site productivity on the total carbon stock in adult radiata pine plantations, considering sites with contrasting water and nutrient availability. We selected 10 sites with sandy and recent volcanic ash soils, representing a productivity gradient. At each site, three 1000 m² plots were established to quantify the carbon stock of total biomass using allometric equations and in situ carbon assessments of the forest floor and mineral soil (up to 1 m deep). The results indicated significantly higher carbon stocks in the mineral soil of recent ash sites (281.4 Mg ha⁻¹) compared to sandy soils (139.9 Mg ha⁻¹). The total site carbon was also higher in recent ash (473.2 Mg ha⁻¹) than in sandy sites (330.9 Mg ha⁻¹). A significant relationship was found between stand productivity and soil organic carbon (r² = 0.88), as well as total carbon stock (r² = 0.91) when considering soil type. These findings highlight the importance of including assessments up to 1 m depth and developing soil type and productivity models to improve site carbon stock estimates.

We analyze the targeting and additionality of the Chilean afforestation program reforms implemented in the mid-1990s. Propensity score matching (PSM) estimates are obtained by potential erosion categories using random area sample data. The additional afforestation percentage is estimated to be larger for none or low and very severe categories of potential erosion parcels. Even though the program helped maintain forest cover to highly erodible land, afforested parcels with high opportunity cost and possible negative amenity benefits are also attributed to the program. To improve the cost-effectiveness and to avoid misallocation of land and water resources, more effective targeting is required.

The relationship between stand cumulative production at harvesting age and carbon stock for different soil types in forest plantations is critical for sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation. This study evaluated carbon stocks in Pinus radiata D. Don on granitic and metamorphic soils in central Chile. We selected 10 plantations and established three 1000 m² stands per plantation to quantify the carbon stock of total biomass using allometric equations and in situ carbon assessments of the forest floor and mineral soil (up to 1 m deep). A strong positive correlation was observed between stand cumulative production at harvesting age and total carbon stock (r² = 0.767), regardless of the soil type. Metamorphic and granitic soils demonstrated a high carbon stock capacity, particularly in deeper soil layers (40–100 cm), with soil contributing over 40% of the total soil carbon stock. Soil bulk density and carbon concentration were strongly correlated (r² = 0.74), emphasizing the role of soil physical properties in carbon storage at deep soil horizons. These findings highlight the critical role of subsoils as carbon reservoirs. Predictive linear models developed from this study offer a useful and simple approach for estimating carbon stocks, contributing to national carbon neutrality goals and sustainable forest management.