Why does this forest look like a fingerprint?
Vox・14 minutes read
A Reddit user discovered unique DNA-like forests in Uruguay, part of a larger array of mesmerizing designs covering the country, driven by the expansion of the forestry industry and wood pulp exports. Afforestation in Uruguay has transformed the landscape and economy, impacting local ecosystems and communities, reflecting a global trend of transnational corporations reshaping landscapes for economic demands.
Insights
- Afforestation in Uruguay, driven by companies like UPM, has transformed the landscape and economy, with wood pulp becoming a major export, but it has negatively impacted local ecosystems and biodiversity.
- The global trend of transnational wood pulp corporations reshaping landscapes in countries like Uruguay, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Brazil highlights the complex interplay between economic development, environmental concerns, and social impacts, often leading to disruptions and protests in local communities.
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Recent questions
What unique discovery did tarek619 make in Uruguay?
DNA-like forests spanning 30 kilometers.
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Summary
00:00
Uruguay's Afforestation Boom: Economic Growth, Environmental Concerns
- In 2022, a Reddit user named tarek619 discovered strange DNA-like forests spanning 30 kilometers in Uruguay, leading to intrigue.
- These forests, resembling fingerprints, were part of a larger array of mesmerizing forest designs covering the entire country.
- The majority of Uruguay's 17 million hectares of land are covered with pine and eucalyptus plantations, primarily for pulp production.
- Uruguay's forestry industry has significantly expanded, with wood pulp becoming a major export, totaling over $2 billion in 2023.
- Afforestation, not reforestation, has been a key focus in Uruguay, transforming the landscape and economy dramatically.
- UPM, a Finnish company, owns a significant portion of Uruguay's forest plantations and operates major pulp mills in the country.
- The construction of UPM's pulp mill in Paso de los Toros was a massive investment, reshaping the town and creating economic zones.
- Afforestation has led to monoculture tree farms, impacting local ecosystems and biodiversity negatively.
- Studies have shown that afforested plantations can reduce water yield, soil fertility, and contribute to carbon release upon decomposition.
- Uruguay has invested heavily in infrastructure, including a central railway and port terminal, to transport and export wood pulp, causing disruptions and protests in local communities.
21:40
Global trend: Land expropriation for economic gain.
- In August 2018, Nancy and Rodolfo from Uruguay received a letter from the Ministry of Transport stating the need to expropriate their property for a train project, but they are still awaiting financial compensation. This situation reflects a global trend where transnational wood pulp corporations, planting eucalyptus in countries like Indonesia, Mozambique, and Brazil, reshape landscapes driven by the demands of the global economy.
