Chilean Matorral

The Chilean Matorral is a special area in central Chile, found on the west coast of South America. It is part of a larger group of places called the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub in the Neotropical realm. This ecoregion has a temperate Mediterranean climate, which means it has rainy winters and dry summers.

The Chilean Matorral sits between the very dry Atacama Desert and the wet Valdivian temperate forests. It is home to many different plants, including tall shrubs, forests, woodlands, savannas, and low scrublands.

This area is one of only five places in the world with a Mediterranean climate. The others are the Mediterranean Basin, the California chaparral and woodlands in California and Baja California, the Cape Province of South Africa, and Southwest Australia. These special places share similar weather patterns and plant life.

Setting

The Matorral is found in central Chile between 32° and 37° south latitude. The Pacific Ocean is to the west. The Chilean Coastal Range runs next to the coast. The Chilean Central Valley lies between the Coastal range and the Andes Mountains, which mark the eastern edge of the Matorral. To the north is the very dry Atacama desert. To the south is the cooler, wetter Valdivian temperate forests area, which has lovely forests.

Flora

The Chilean Matorral has many kinds of plants. In the north, there is a scrubland called coastal semi-desert scrub, or lomas. This area gets extra moisture from fog and clouds, which helps plants grow. Here you can find shrubs and tall cacti.

Further south, there is coastal matorral, a low scrubland with shrubs and special plants like palhuén and palo de yagua. The matorral is a shrubland with hard-leaved shrubs, small trees, cacti, and bromeliads. There is also espinal, a savanna with spaced-out trees like Espino and spiny carob, and grasses that came from the Mediterranean Basin long ago.

Sclerophyll woodlands and forests, with trees like peumo and boldo, now only exist in small areas. Many plants in this ecoregion are found only in Chile, such as Gomortega keule and the Chilean wine palm.

Fauna

The Chilean Matorral is home to many animals. There are about 200 kinds of birds, including some that only live here, like the Chilean tinamou and white-throated tapaculo. Mammals such as the common degu and pichi (a small armadillo) also live here. Predators like the puma can be found too.

Many reptiles, such as different types of tree iguanas, are unique to this area. Frogs and toads, including the Atacama toad and the banded wood frog, are also part of the ecoregion's wildlife.

Conservation and threats

The Chilean Matorral is where most of Chile's people and big cities are found. It is also an important place for farming. This area faces many challenges. People use the land for grazing animals, cutting down trees, and building towns. Non-native grasses from faraway places have taken over, pushing out the plants that naturally belong there. Many of the original forests and woodlands have been damaged and turned into scrubby bushes. Fires started by people and too many animals like rabbits, hares, and goats eating the plants are also problems.

Only a small part, about 1.3%, of the Chilean Matorral is protected in parks and reserves. Some of these protected places include:

• Lago Peñuelas National Reserve
• Río Blanco National Reserve
• Las Cruces Marine and Coastal Protected Area
• Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
• Las Palmas de Cocalán National Park
• Llanos de Challe National Park
• Pan de Azúcar National Park
• Morro Moreno National Park
• Las Chinchillas National Reserve
• Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve
• El Yali National Reserve
• Roblería del Cobre de Loncha National Reserve
• Pichasca Natural Monument
• Cerro Ñielol Natural Monument
• Isla Cachagua Natural Monument
• Paposo Norte Natural Monument
• Roca Oceánica Nature Sanctuary
• Campo dunar de la punta de Concón Nature Sanctuary
• Palmar El Salto Nature Sanctuary
• Las Petras de Quintero y su Entorno Nature Sanctuary
• Laguna El Peral Nature Sanctuary
• Laguna Conchalí Nature Sanctuary
• Granito Orbicular Nature Sanctuary
• Serranía el Ciprés Nature Sanctuary
• Acantilados Federico Santa María Nature Sanctuary
• Isla de Cachagua Nature Sanctuary
• Predio Sector "Altos de Cantillana - Horcón de Piedra y Roblería Cajón de Lisboa" Nature Sanctuary
• San Juan de Piche Nature Sanctuary
• Bosque de Calabacillo de Navidad Nature Sanctuary
• Horcón de Piedra (Fundo Rinconada de Chocalán) Nature Sanctuary
• Cajón del Río Achibueno Nature Sanctuary
• Estero Derecho Nature Sanctuary
• Humedal de Tunquén Nature Sanctuary
• Quebrada de La Plata Nature Sanctuary
• Quebrada de Córdova Nature Sanctuary
• Quebrada Llau Llau Nature Sanctuary
• Área de Palma Chilena de Monte Aranda Nature Sanctuary
• Cerro Poqui Nature Sanctuary
• Raja de Manquehua - Poza Azul Nature Sanctuary
• Humedales de Tongoy Nature Sanctuary
• Humedal Río Maipo Nature Sanctuary
• Cerro Santa Inés Nature Sanctuary
• El Zaino - Laguna El Copín Nature Sanctuary
• Humedal Costero Carrizal Bajo Nature Sanctuary