File number: xbq0003

© South American Pictures/ Tony Morrison

Chile: the Alerce (Fitroya cupressoides) is one of the oldest trees in the world, and can have a life span of up to 4000 years. Alerces can grow up to 60 metres tall and exist only in the temperate rain forest of Chile. They were declared collectively as a National Monument in 1976 and in 1982 the National Park of the Andean Alerce / Parque Nacional Alerce Andino was created to protect the species from loggers.