Every moment in the forest gives me calm and strength

4 May 2021 Forests in photos

This month we hear from Guillermo Feuerhake, a runner up in our 2020 ‘Experience Forests, Experience PEFC’ photo contest.

Guillermo tells us about his stunning photo ‘Autumn Mist’, that he took in the Conguillío National Park in Chile, and what makes the tree in the centre of the photo so special.

How do you feel about forests, both professionally and personally?

As a native from Temuco, Southern Chile, I have lived close to forests since my childhood, knowing their beauty and the life they harbour. Touring the protected forest of Cerro Ñielol or the Araucanía Region reserves as a child, I learned to appreciate the importance of trees, the ecosystem they form, and the wonderful world of animal life they create and protect.

For me, every moment in the forest gives me calm and strength, a communion with nature and emotional support, in a time and space so different from the city and everyday life.

How did the forest inspire you to take your winning photo?

Living in Chile’s capital Santiago, I travel whenever I can to visit the forests in Southern or Central Chile, to enjoy and photograph nature.

One of those trips took me to the Conguillío National Park in Araucanía, where there are large, ancient forests that create an extraordinarily beautiful environment. There is a great variety of species, among which the Araucaria stands out. It is an ancient tree that only grows in the mountain range, and the central motif of my photograph. I took my photo at dawn, when the mist rises from the humid environment with the first rays of the sun.

Another reason for going to those southern forests is to capture the autumn beauty, which stains the leaves of many native species red and yellow. A great subject to observe and photograph.

What do you think about the work that an organization such as PEFC does to care for forests?

I greatly appreciate PEFC’s work, for helping to balance the environment by regulating forestry through norms that defend a correct development of crops and derived products, certifying that they comply with environmental, social and economic requirements.

Sustainable and responsible forest management helps protect our forests and the natural environment in our country.