La Forestal

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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, becoming the leading global producer of tannin. The company played a significant role in establishing approximately 40 towns, constructing ports, laying down 400 kilometers of private railways, and operating around 30 factories. At its peak, La Forestal employed about 20,000 people. Throughout its presence in Argentina, La Forestal possessed 2,000,000 hectares of quebracho forests, owned five tannin plants and operated 400 kilometers of railways. The company functioned like a self-contained entity within the region, managing ports and towns. It even had its own security force, the Gendarmería Volante, established following the 1919 strikes and managed by Santa Fe Governor Enrique Mosca. Moreover, La Forestal introduced its own currency, which workers used to exchange for food and clothing. La Forestal's exports were substantial, and its Chaco tannin played a crucial role in tanning leather goods, including boots and other gear, for British soldiers during World War I. Between 1919 and 1923, workers' unions within the company engaged in labor struggles, culminating in the La Forestal massacre in 1921, one of the largest massacres in Argentine history. 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 billion dollars.