The environmental group Finis Terrae has denounced the “irrational” forest management in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina's southernmost province, and warned that if things continue as they are, there will be no forest left in seven years. Graciela Ramaciotti, Finis Terrae director, told Tierramérica that the U.S.-based company Trillium — the largest landonwer in the province, with about 100,000 hectares of forest — is cutting 800 to 1,000 hectares a year of tree species like the lenga beech (Nothofagus pumilio) and the Antarctic beech (Nothofagus antarctica).

“The forest technicians of the Foresty Directorate say it is recommended not to exploit more than 350 hectares a year, but nobody is monitoring it,” says Ramaciotti.

In Tierra del Fuego, private companies can own the land, but the province maintains authority over the forests. Nevertheless, Ramaciotti said the government lacks the political will to regulate the operations of the companies.