The 2023 Latin America Contact Meeting was hosted by our cooperator, Klabin, in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná, Brazil, from November 7th to 9th. The meeting started with 12 presentations highlighting key results of FPC and cooperator studies in pine and eucalyptus plantations in Latin America. On the second day, participants embarked on a field trip to explore Klabin's local field trials, fostering robust scientific and operational discussions. These insights helped fuel the conversation during the FPC Latin American Strategic Planning session on the final day.

Daniel Bozo and Juan Carlos Valverde, UdeC graduate students, visited Dr. Otávio Campoe (UFLA) in Lavras Brazil, from November 13 to 17 with the support of the Chilean FOVI220029 grant project for international collaboration, directed by Dr. Rafael Rubilar. Results from Daniel and Juan Carlo’s graduate studies will be summarized in future publications in collaboration with UdeC.

Dr. Rafael Rubilar visited Dr. Phill Smethurst at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia from September 21  to October 6, supported by the Chilean FOVI220029 grant project of international collaboration.  Dr. Rubilar & Dr. Smethurst developed the first stages for calibrating an APSIM model for Mediterranean Eucalyptus and solidified steps for further modeling challenges for water and carbon sustainability. Dr. Rubilar presented an extended seminar at CSIRO that attracted broad attention from scientists and the forest industry in Australia.

Dr. Efrain Duarte, postdoctoral researcher of the ANID ANILLO433815 FIRING grant project directed by Dr. Rafael Rubilar, visited Dr. David Forrester at CSIRO in Australia in September, supported by the Chilean FOVI220029 grant project of international collaboration. Dr. Duarte's internship focused on developing a geospatial model to estimate the impacts of wildfires on soil and forest productivity.

FPC staff and students organized the International Seminar “Forest and Plantations Sustainability” to celebrate Soils World Day on December 5th at the Faculty of Forest Sciences at Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC). Dr. Otávio Campoe was invited as a keynote speaker along with Dr. Rubilar and FPC graduate students, Maria Higuita (NCSU), Daniel Bozo, and Juan C. Valverde (UdeC). More information here.

Dr. Rafael Rubilar was invited as a keynote speaker at the IUFRO Congress “Enhancing the performance and sustainability of eucalypt plantations to broaden their benefits” in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay. Dr. Rubilar presented the talk “Forest Management and Productivity: Environmental, social and economic benefits”. More information here.

Dr. Rafael Rubilar organized the International Congress “Mega Wildfires: effects of fire on forests and territories” from August 22 to 24 at the Faculty of Forest Sciences at UdeC. Different presentations analyzed the problem of wildfires from a perspective of impacts on the soil, hydrological processes, biodiversity, society and territory. Silvicultural alternatives were proposed within the context of climate change as preventive measures against wildfires. Additionally, diverse remote sensing tools were showcased for monitoring, prevention, and diagnosing wildfires.

Dr. Guillermo Barrientos, in collaboration with Dr. Rafael Rubilar and Dr. Efraín Duarte, has successfully secured the FONDEFID23I10011 grant project as the principal investigator. The objective of this project is to create a software tool for state institutions to facilitate decision-making in sustainable water management in priority areas and model potential impacts of climate change on water resources in Chile. Dr. Guillermo Barrientos, previously a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Concepción within the ANID Basal Cenamad FB210015 grant project led by Dr. Rafael Rubilar in 2022, transitioned to the role of an associate researcher at the Catholic University of Maule in Hydrological Modeling in March of the current year.