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| Industry | Wood |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1906 [1] |
| Defunct | 1963[1] |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | Chaco Santafesino (Santa Fe Province) , Argentina |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Tannin |
Number of employees | 20,000 [1] |
| Parent | Murrieta & Co., London |
The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Company Limited, commonly known as La Forestal, was a British forestry company that operated in the region between the southern Chaco and northern Santa Fe provinces in Argentina. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, La Forestal exploited the extensive quebracho forests in these provinces,[2] becoming the leading global producer of tannin. The company played a significant role in establishing approximately 40 towns, constructed ports, laid down 400 kilometers of private railways, and operated around 30 factories. At its peak, La Forestal employed about 20,000 people.[1]
Throughout its presence in Argentina, La Forestal possessed 2,000,000 hectares of quebracho forests, owned five tannin plants, and operated 400 kilometers of its railways. The company functioned like a self-contained entity within the region, with ports and towns under its management. It even had its security force, the Gendarmería Volante, which was established following the strikes 1919 and managed by Santa Fe Governor Enrique Mosca. Moreover, La Forestal introduced its own currency, used by workers in exchange for food and clothing.[3]
La Forestal's exports were substantial, and its Chaco tannin played a crucial role in tanning the leather goods, including boots and other gear, for British soldiers during World War I.[4]
Between 1919 and 1923, workers' unions within the company engaged in labor struggles, culminating in the tragic La Forestal massacre of 1921, which remains one of the largest massacres in Argentine history.[5][2][4] The company eventually departed Argentina in 1963, leading to the closure of the towns it had established. Unfortunately, this departure was preceded by the deforestation of almost 90% of the forests, causing significant ecological damage and desertification estimated at approximately 3,000 million dollars.[1]
- ^ a b c d e La Forestal, la firma inglesa que explotó los bosques de quebracho santafesinos on La Nación, 2018
- ^ a b La historia por detrás de la historia. La Forestal y Carlos Casado at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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