Protection and Prevention through Domestication: The Case of Chilean Hazelnut (Gevuina avellana Mol.)

Climate change has a negative impact on food security and production systems. The increase in temperatures globally affects sustainability, the performance of ecosystem services, biodiversity and the environment. In this context, the current efforts of society should be aimed at developing environmentally friendly strategies that help mitigate the harmful effects produced on wáter resources, phytogenetic resources, soil and agricultural production. The objective of this chapter is to present an innovative methodology that integrates the modeling of ecological niches and last generation genetic-molecular tools as a strategy aimed at guaranteeing effective plans for the conservation, recovery, visibility and potential use of a species. The research deals with the study of the Chilean hazelnut (Gevuina avellana Mol.), a native species of Chile with a high potential for domestication. The study aims to create interaction networks to develop an ecological, regenerative and climate-smart crop, in order to support local peasant family farming and the ecological restoration of the species in sites degraded by forest fires. The methodology is described as a model strategy that can be extrapolated to other plant species whose value and knowledge in a given region is limited.