Alerces

Alerces refers to Fitzroya cupressoides, a large evergreen conifer in the cypress family native to southern Chile and southwestern Argentina. The trees are commonly called Patagonian cypresses and are among the longest-living forest trees, with some individuals exceeding 2,000 years in age. Alerces typically grow to about 20–40 meters tall, with thick, buttressed trunks; exceptionally large specimens can be taller and wider. The wood is exceptionally durable and resinous, historically valued for construction, boatbuilding, and furniture.

They inhabit cool, moist temperate rainforests in the Andean-Patagonian region, often in foggy areas with high rainfall. Their distribution spans southern Chile and adjacent Argentina, where they occur in low to mid elevations. Growth is slow, and old-growth stands form extensive populations that support diverse ecosystems, frequently associated with Nothofagus and other southern flora.

Conservation and status: Fitzroya cupressoides is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to historic and ongoing pressures from logging, land conversion, and climate change. In many areas, old-growth alerces have been reduced or fragmented. Today, protected areas such as Los Alerces National Park in Argentina and various reserves in Chile safeguard remaining stands and promote conservation and sustainable use of the species and its habitat.

See also: Los Alerces National Park; Alerce Costero.