Human–tree relations, nature ontologies and the politics of conservation: Disputing pewen conservation in Chile

This paper examines how competing and contested understandings of nature and human-nature relations shape approaches to pewen ( Araucaria araucana ) conservation in Chile. Drawing on fieldwork observations, interviews, and analysis of conservation debates, three distinct perspectives are explored: the ecologists’, geneticists’, and the Pewenche approach. The ecologists’ approach, aligned with neoprotectionist conservation, views nature as separate from humans and advocates for protected areas to exclude human activities. The geneticists’ approach, reflecting new conservation ideas, embraces human intervention through ex-situ conservation and assisted migration, supported by the forest industry. The Pewenche approach, grounded in Indigenous relational ontologies, sees humans and pewen as entangled, focusing on broader socioeconomic and governance issues. These divergent perspectives lead to conflicting conservation strategies, with the ecologists’ approach dominating policy discussions whilst disregarding Indigenous rights and knowledge. The geneticists’ approach is advancing practical interventions through industry partnerships. Meanwhile, the Pewenche perspective, despite its historical relevance to the species, remains marginalised. This research illustrates how ontological understandings of nature influence conservation practices and reinforce power inequalities, particularly impacting Indigenous communities. It argues for the importance of recognising diverse nature ontologies in crafting more equitable and effective conservation policies.