Guardians Chile
Proyecto Araucarias de Quinquen
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Pewenche are the people of the Pewen or Chilean Araucaria. Araucaria, also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree in English, is a prehistoric species known to be one of the oldest living specimens on earth
Comunidad Quinquen are pioneers of indigenous land rights in Chile. The Meliñir family were the first Indigenous leadership in Chile to claim sovereignty over ancestral territory, a process that involved standing up to the Pinochet dictatorship and starting an international boycott campaign that stopped the international export of araucaria wood.
Why is Quinquen so unique?
Quinquen is a Spanish loan word from the Mapudungun Kükañwe, which means refuge of our ancestors.
Quinquen is located near the city of Lonquimay, in the 9th region (Region de la Araucania) in Southern Chile. It is an officially recognised indigenous autonomous territory. Their leaders, the Melinir family steward 7,000 hectares of native Araucaria forest. Recent studies suggest Quinquen valley may hold the highest concentration of araucaria trees in the world, The territory also contains some of the oldest araucaria specimens in the world. The Andean montane temperate forest of Quinquen also contains a number of other native tree species including coigue, ñirre, Chilean oak and rauli.
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Quinquen is a stronghold of Pewenche culture. It is a historical bastion of indigenous resistance against Spanish invasion. In Galletue Lake, Mapuche warriors would train for war against the invading conquistadors in the 16th, and 17th centuries.
Araucaria trees are highly threatened in the wild
​​​​​​​​​​Comunidad Quinquen played a vital role in protecting the the monkey-puzzle or araucaria forests from commercial timber corporations, as they led the process for the declaration, in Chilean law, of the araucaria as national monument. Sadly, they might not save these amazing prehistoric trees from dieback disease (recent studies show 90% of wild araucarias in Chile are infected).
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The cause of dieback is unknown, but it is thought to be climate change, and changing temperatures and rainfall conditions in the Southern Andes. The Pewen people speak of climate change as Quisukutran and Mapukutran, disease of the spirit and disease of the Earth, to be cured by a life in harmony with the forest. Hence the need for reofrestation as a healing practice. When land is healed, human soul is healed with it.
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Guardians Worldwide is supporting the Melinir family with the creation of an Araucaria nursery and reforestation programme, to bring the Araucarias back to land of the Pewenche. The native tree nursery and reforestation initiative, first funded by the United Nations Development Programme, now relies on individual donors to continue. You too can save the prehistoric Monkey Puzzle tree from extinction and join the fight to save these extraordinary trees.
Top:Araucaria pine worship in Comunidad Quinquen, Below: Araucaria tree suffering from fungal disease (dieback).
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Location of Comunidad Pewenche Quinquen, 7,000 hectares of Indigenous forest reserve in Araucania Region, Southern Chile
Photos on the far right show Galletue Lake (top) and Sierra Nevada, on the fringes of Comunidad Quinquen (bottom).
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Why is Indigenous-led reforestation effective?
​​Through traditional indigenous governance, preservation of customary laws and spiritual practices, the Meliñir family continue to protect the sacred tree of the Pewenche people.
After decades of activism and campaigning, threats to the future of Quinquen's araucaria forest remains. The threat of overgrazing, wild fires, disease, and encroachment from mining corporations and timber forestry is ever present.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Deforestation near Comunidad Quinquen. Photo by Sebastian Melo
SIGN THis PETITION TO STOP THE FELLING OF ARAUCARIA
In July 2025, The Chilean Forestry authorities authorized the felling of 96 millennial Araucaria trees in La Araucanía Region
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Through Resolutions No. 594 and 595 issued on July 18, the cutting of 39 specimens in the Liucura–Icalma section and 57 in the Icalma–Melipeuco section was permitted, as part of the Route S-61 road project.
The works aim to pave the route with asphalt concrete, improve connectivity, and promote tourism.
The affected trees are designated as a Natural Monument and classified as “endangered” by the Ministry of the Environment and the IUCN.
Thousand year old Araucaria araucana in the Icalma-Liucura road, Feburary 2025. Photo by Nic Salazar