This study looks at how globalization of the Chilean forestry Industry has impacted the Mapuche Indians' ecological niche. The Mapuches' traditional ecological niche was rooted in the biodiversity of the southern beech forest. Their ecological niche - characterized by subsistence wheat farming and hunting and gathering - remained stable from the late 19th century to the 1970s - when the Chilean government launched its highly successful development program to form an internationally competitive forestry industry. Through generous government subsidies (given to large landholders and Chilean companies), forestry plantations popped up on land that was formerly believed, by most Chileans, to be marginal, at best. The subsidies created a profitable industry that quickly became a target for foreign capital. Over 2.5 million hectares of pine and eucalyptus were planted - in only 25 years - in the heart of Mapuche territory. Because of the explosive growth of plantations, the Mapuches' ecological niche was dramatically altered. In this study, 36 Mapuches, living in the eastern foothills of the Araucania's coastal mountains, were interviewed to find out how forestry plantations had impacted their environment and culture. Overall, Mapuches perceived that the forestry plantations had had a very deleterious impact on their livelihoods. They said that the forestry plantations had led to increased environmental degradation. Mapuches reported impacts such as the disappearance of water resources, the intensification of agrochemical use on the plantations, and erosion. The Mapuches, who are very land poor, expressed a concern that the forestry companies were wasting vital agricultural land.