Chile: Wildfires Damage Agricultural and Forest Areas
On January 20, the Government of Chile declared a state of emergency and requested international assistance to combat wildfires that took place in the regions of Biobio, La Araucania, Los Lagos, Maule, Metropolitana, O’Higgins, and Valparaiso regions. The damage resulted in a significant loss of commercial forests that amounts to eight percent of Chile’s total forest area. These areas could take up to 30 years to recover. As such, domestic wood supplies are expected to decline in 2018 which may lead to increased demand for imports to fill the shortfall.
