Academic authorities and forestry authorities attended the official launch of the Technological Center for Sustainable Native Forest (Centro Tecnológico del Bosque Nativo Sustentable, CTBNS) on Monday, March 10 at the central building of Universidad de Chile.
The CTBNS is an initiative generated by the Center for Mathematical Modeling, involving the Faculty of Forestry, both from Universidad de Chile, and the universities de Magallanes, La Frontera and Los Lagos.
One of its objectives is to enhance applied research in the management of this renewable natural resource and improve the quality of life for people living in the forests. To carry out this work, the center has the collaboration of Nordic and Canadian experts.
The Director of the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM), Jaime St. Martín, stressed the importance of this initiative for the country. “There was a lack of research center, at a very high level, on the problems of native forest for preservation and management.” He also explained that the participation and creation of CTBNS means a great challenge for the CMM . “This is an academic spin-off , our main contribution is to be host the beginning of this center that has to grow and develop and then, undoubtedly should flight by itself.”
The Director of the Technological Center for Sustainable Native Forest, Paul Sepulveda, highlighted the public commitment of the four Chilean universities involved in this initiative. At the same time he shared some future tasks of the center. “It will address in solving technological problems, identify market niches and engineering and design products, always bearing in mind the sustainability of the resource.” To achieve these goals, the Director explained in the medium term is expected to create a highly specialized human capital in applied technology and sustainability of native forest.
To the ceremony also attended by the Rector of the Universidad de Los Lagos, Raúl Aguilar, who sees this initiative as “a clear and forceful collaborative competition” among state universities. In his speech, the highest authority from Universidad de Los Lagos explained that the native forest is difficult to implement in isolation and for that reason a center with intraregional coverage was needed.
Lastly, Prorrector at the University of Chile, Jorge Las Heras, highlighted the involvement of other universities in this center as well as the Faculties of Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Forestry of Universidad de Chile. Additionally said: “We believe that this is a very auspicious launch, I am convinced that will bring large amounts of forest development in the country.”
