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39 Article

Trends on and Strategy

. inSilyiculturethe Brazilian AZoningmazonla

Megumi Maruyama'i, ShigeakiIIattori"iand Katsuhiro Kitagawa*2

ABSTRACT

International tropica] timber trade clemonstrated a turning point in the ]99e's. Some of the southeast Asian countries such as Phi]ippines and Thailand turned into importers of round-wood, after being big exporters up til] 1994. This change reflects the presence of many logging companies of those Asian ceuntries in the Brazilian Arnazon in the late 1990's. In this paper, Amazonian timber production ancl the forest situation of Legal Amazonia (the nine Brazilian states of Amazon{a) were studied based on a field-study carried out in August 1997. During the study, it was confirmed that, due to depletion of round-wood resources, international loggers were advancing further into the

Amazonian rainferests. To promote the conservation of the Amazonian ecesystem, the Braz{lian government has established a zoning strategy in Legal Amazonia, clearly dividing conservation areas and farming areas since l990. For better understanding of the Iand-uses in that region, the zoning strategy was examined in the field, mainly in the Amazonas State and in Rond6nia State, in August 1997. Also, ITTO's ]997 statistical data on tropical tirnber trade and Zachow's 1998 clata on forest manageinent were analyzed. As a result, it was found that most of that region has no proper control on the forests yet. In Rondania, dep]etion of was observed along the BR-364 highway and adjacent roads, due to Iack of infrastructure (supply of electricity and fuel gas). This fact accelerated the forest burning beyond the authorized rate of 20% for each settlers' land, which vary from 100ha to 25ha, depending on their settlement year. In heavily logged stands in Rond6nia and Amazonas, there was a luxuriant growth of liana and palm , replacing the original (shade-tolerant) . This kind of alteration clearly shows the induced anthropogenic change in the climax forest, Out of 3,648,OeOl{m2 of Amazonian ra{nforest, only 26kmZ is under sustainable management treatment. Local people should be assisted more intensively by the government, to plan and implement the sustainable management of the forests. Zoning strategies should be clearly defincd a]1 over the region Lo avoid depletion of the virgin forest and to promote good use of the abandoned lands after burning.

timber, sustainable management, Kayword: Legal Amazonia (Brazilian Amazonia) , deforestation,tropical silviculture

northern and southern regions. Amazenian rainforest and

INTRODUCTION savanna (cerrado) mainly cover the northern region, with very litt]e practice of si]viculture. Pine forest and Eucalyp- Brazilian forests show different charaeteristics in the tus plantations represent the major vegetatien cover of the southern region, with wood production Tnain]y based on silviculture. In this paper, log production and land-uses of 'iForest Resources Uti]ization Laboratory, the Brazilian Amazon, as well as causes of dcforestation, NAcoyA UNis,ERs[Ty, School of Agricu]tural Sci- are discussed, based on the field study carried out in August ences, Dept. of Biol. Rescjurces and Environ- 1997. Development projects too]{ place in that region in the mental Sciences, Chikusa Nagoyu 464-8601, JapanS2International ear]y 1970's, including colonization projects and construc- Cooperation Center for Agricul- t{on ef national roads. The annual deforestedarea of Legal tural Education {ICCAE), Division of Amazonia achieved a peak of 29,059km2 in 1995, decreas- Coeperative-Network Development, Nagoya in 1998199 National Institute for University, Chikusa Nagoya 464'8601, Japan ing to 16,926km! (INPE

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40 Manayama et aL

Spatial Research), amounting to 10% deforestation of that and HiGucHf (1997), Their experiments indicated that region between 1970 and 200e. Among the ITTO (Interna- logging resulted in the first 3-4 years in mortality increase tional Tropical Timber Organization) mernbers, the top 4 and growth of light-demanding species. However, the round-wood producers in,1995-1997 were , India, forest stand regained a positive balance after eight years, Inclonesia and Malaysia. Due to the round-wood produc- with growth rates nearly reaching those of a primary tion ban introduced by those southeastern Asian countries, un]ogged forest. Also, managed forest with proper Brazil has turned to be the main round-wood producer silvicu]tural treatment showed an increase in the timber

since 1995(Fig.1). There are two important forest man- procluction rate compared to the primary forest. With the

agement research programs within Legal Amazonia: one intention of addressing ecological problems and achieving has been carried out in the National Forest of Tapaj6s social and econornic benefits from proper land use, the (EMBRAPA-CPATU-The Brazilian Agricu]tural Brazilian government introduced the zoning strategy to Research Organization-Agroforestry Research Center for iinprove ferest management. A field study was earried out

the Eastern Amazonia) since 1978, and another one in in Rondania SLate to evaluate the functioning of the zoning Manaus (INPA-National Institute for Amazonian strategy.

Research) since 1980. Seme important experimental The purpose of this paper was to analyze the actual results on silviculture and forest management carried out rainforest depletion rate ancl examine how the silvicu]ture

in Legal Amazonia were presented by SiLvA et aL (1993), and zoning strategy worked to achieve sustainable forest

management in Legal Amazonia.

60 1 STUDY AREA l50

The field study was carried out in Legal Amazonia

40-Eeo (Fig. 2 ) in August 1997, in the settlement lots administerecl i by INCRA (Nationa] Institute for Colonization and Agrar- MMEIeysie 1 30x2D ElndenesiaNlndis-Brszilian Reform) JiparanE of Rond6nia State and INPA Study l!/I10 Forest ZF-2, located 90km to the north of Manaus in 1 ･1 Amazonas State. Area, population and deforestation rates of Legal Amazonia are shown in Table 1.

1 ! LOGGING IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON lol

lggl 1992 1993 1994 t995 1996 1997 Amazonian species are extremely heterogeneous Fig.1 Top four tropical log producers, 1991-1997 and the average commercial tree yield is one m31ha!year in Source: ITTO, l997 a natural forest. The ferest crown can be seen below the INPA's ZF-2 45rn Observation Tower, in the terra f{rme

Table 1 Deforestation in the Brazi]ian Amazon States since 1970 (km2)

COLUotBIA States Area Population Defoiestedarea (Aug.1ee6)

AcreAmapaAinazonas 153,149 9 483,726 13,742 PEPU 143,453.7 379,479 1,782 1,577,820.2 2,389,279 27,434 Maranhao' 333,365.6 5,222,565 99,338119,141176,]38 906,806 9 2,235,832 ParARond6nia 1,253,164 5 i510,S49 238,512.8 1,231,O07 48,648 RoraimaTocantins 225,116,1 247,131 5,361 278,420,7 1,048,642 25,483517,069 ARGENTIFU. Legalilmazonia{Teta1)5,109,81e 4 18,748,510

* Only 50% of the state is in Legal Amazonian region. Fig. 2 The nine states of Legal Amazon Source: INPE, 1998 & IBGE, 1998

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1>Tnds on Silviculterre and Zbning Strategy inthe Biueigian A1ua2oma 41

are some species with export were (upland)forest. However, there the Brazilian tin]ber in 1996 Europe (45%),

50-60m heights (Fig. 3 ). The dominant botanic families in North America (40%) , Central America and Andean coun-

Amazonia are Laguminosae, Leclithiclaceae and Smpoinceae tries.

in terra firme, and Alyristicaceae in varzea (periodically Tax incentives to carry out the farming projects in flooded plain}. The main species of lumber exported from Amazonia were eliminatec! in 1990, following which felling

Legal Amazonia in 1994 were CZTmpa guianensis, Diniaia and se]ective exploitation of timber became more intensive, excelsa, Bagassa guianensis, Ced7Tlla spp., Amburana cearen- mainly in southern Para State (MCT-INPAIDFID, 1997). sts, Ilymenaea coztiibali, Cordia goegdiana, Astronium spp., Demancl for Amazonian timber is increasing, not only for Ocotea Porosa, 7kebebuia spp., S2tJietenia macropdyllke, Bowdi- the national market, but also for exports. In 1997, chin nitidu, Ced'relinga catenaqfornzis and Vi}ola sun'namen- BraziliRn production of logs was 48,OOO,OOOm3, including sts (ITTO, 1997) . Among these species, mahogany 26,OOO,OOOm3 from non-conifers (Arnazonian hardwoods). (Sevietenia macmplaylla) or mogno is commercially the Most of the profit frem Brazilian timber exports most va]uable, fo]lowed by virola ( Virola sun'namensis). comes from paper and pulp production obtained from In l990-1996, 743,840m3 of mogne was exported from Eucalyptus in the southern regions. However, finished Legal Amazonia (AIMEX, I997) . The main destinations of manufactures are also prodiuced from Amazonian hard- woeds (Fig.4). Usually, they are harvested predatorily from virgin forest. However, some of them are produced from plantations: Teca (Tectona gltzndis}, A]bizia (Albgia fateata), Balsa (Ochroma P}'mmihale), Gmelina (Gmelina aitorea) and Seringueira (Hbvea btzzsiliensis). Forest productien {n southeast Asia achieved its peak in the early 1990's after which some ef the Asian tropica]

tirnber companies stepped up their operations in the Am-

azon. Philippines and Thailand, big tropical timber

exporters in the past, turnecl to be importers in this decade

because of depletion of timber resources in their own

countries. The total tropical timber market has been stable

in recent years, at an annuaT average of 136 mi]lion m3. Timber stocks in the Brazilian Amazonia are esti-

mated to be 50 billion m:, of which the viable yield may be

"terra Fig.3 Amazonian typical firrne" rainforest seen only 10% of it. Among 4,OOO to 5,eOO tree species regis- from the INPA ZF-2 45in Observation Tower, in tered by INPA, less than 100 species are absorbed by the Amazonas State. {Picture tal{en by Dr, Niro international market. An average of 3eO species is usually Amazonian Higuchi of INPA, on August 21, 1997) found in a typicalstand of one hectareof terra

-+- +Southern Region Northern Regien

9,OOO

8,OOO

7,OOO.f･

6.0ooE'e

5,oooE 4,ooo-]o'

3,OOO

2,OOO

1,OOO

o 19SOFig.4 19S5 1990 1995

Brazilian lumber production(× Source: Brazilian Wood Profile10imi)(1994)

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42 Mancyama et al.

']correntao", firrne forest. Exported Amazonian Iumber in 1993 corn- practice ef This method disturbs the forest prised mogno (Swietenia macvmpdylga) 14.21%, jatoba badly because the trees are felled using two bulldozers (flymenaea courban'l L.) 5.94%, curupixa (Micmphotiscennected with a thick chain. Also, as mogno trees are venulosa) 5.76% and cedro (Cedrella spp,) 5.02%, totall{ng usua]ly distributed in widely scattered patches, the bull- 395,272m2. Total Amazon{an timber exports, including dozers and harvesting rnachines not only fell innumerable lumber, veneer, plywood and secondary processed wood non-commercial trees and compact the soil, but also disturb products, were 665,663m3 in the same year. the biodiversity of the Amazonian tauna and flora. General

As the Amazon's valuable timber has been exploited deforestation occurs with each mogno harvest. without silvicultural treatrnents over the decades, harvest-

ing stands are continually becoming Tnore distant froni the FOREST MANAGEMENT

mills. In Rond6nia State, the average distance frum har- IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

vest site to mill is 65.8 km. This figure varies according to "madeira the species, and for mills working only with The of Legal Amazonia spread over branca" (Iess valuable commercial timber for domestic 3,648,eOOkmZ, and the deforested area up till 1989 totalled use), the distance is 57.3km, while for those including appruximately 500,OOOkm2. The deforestation rate from

exportable timber it is 87.9km. For mills working only 1990 to 1995 was 127,720km2 (ITTO, 1997).

with export timber, the distance is 161.0km from the base According to Decree no. 1282 of 19 October 1995, the point. This fact makes timber more expensive, affecting modem definition of forest management in the Brazilian

the harvesting sites. Forest sites containing mogno are Amazonia is: Forest admlnistration for obtaining econornic

shrinking each year, and loggers are travelling further to and social benefits, respecting the mechanisrn of ecosystem

obtain it. During the field study, European loggers were sustainability. If the forest management is economically

often seen advancing south of RondOnia State, as far as viable, ecologically correct and socially just, sustainability Vilhena, due to depletion of that species, In Amazonas and is possible. Thc Brazilian government has been introduc-

in Para State, loggers from Malaysia and other countries of ing zoning strategies in the states of Legal Amazonia, in

southeast Asia were buying vast areas of virgin forest. order to clearly divide the land-uses for agricultural pur- In Legal Amazonia, mogno spreads over an area ef poses and protect the fragile rainforest ecosystem. In

1,518,964kmZ, and the standing volume is 18,209,093.9mU. Rond6nia State a zoning strategy was being carried out

This species was the main Brazilian export timber before (rvlARuyAMA, 1999) ; however, much improvernent is expect- the new government regulation in 1990, contributing more ed to consolidate the division of land-uses, than 70% of the total. IIowever, a mogno quota system Jiparana, an Amazonian typical county created in the wus introduced, with a harvesting limit of 150,OOOrnSlyear, middle ef Rond6n{a State for the farming community after

reduced to 70 ,Oeern31year in 1996, when a two-year morato- felling the forest, can be seen in the imagery of Landsat5 rium was established by the government, due to the scar- TM Path231 Row067. In this scene, the deforested area city of this species. was ca}culated to be 51% (MARuyAMA, I996). In order to In this region, harvesting is usually done with the confirm the converted forest into farmlands, TN29, Lot 142 and TN33, Lot l12 were visited. A lot next to TN29, Lot

Fig. 5 Forest burnt a year earlier in INCRA TN33, Lot 112, with only 20 % of remaining forest ]eft, in Fig,6 INCRA in Jiparana. (Picture taken by the author on August settlement RondOniaState.(Picture taken by the author en August 11, 1997) 19, 1997)

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7beendson Silvicultureand Zbning St7zitagF in the Bnixtlian Amazonia 43

142, was being burnt and in it there was a plantation of coffee, cacao, riee and cassava, an area burnt a year before, and 20% was remnant virgin forest (Fig.5 ). The colonist

of TN33, Lot 112 burned 100% of his forest and there was

only converted farm]and. There were very few lots

respecting the law within INCRA's area, that is, retaining at least 50% (1970's rule) of the forest (Fig.6). Usually, soils become impoverished after two or three years of utilization for raising crops in the Amazon, and

are soon abancloned or converted into pasture. That was the reason why there were so many pastures and aban- doned lands in Rond6nia State. AIso, many of the colonists had gone to wor]{ in cassiterite mining, leaving their fam- "terra Fig.7Liana growth in a heavily logged stand of firme'' rainforest, at the entrance of Karitiana Village, RondOnia. (Picture taken by the author on August 18, 1997)

Table 2DBH increment main commercial tree

species of LegalofAmazoniaDiameter

Species increment Cnwn1'year)

Ancliroba, Campa guianensis Aubl. -Mbtiaceae 63446587 -Leaythidoceae Tauari, Couralan' spp.

Macaranduba, Mdnideam spp. -Smpotaceae -BurseTaceae Breu, Tmttinnickin bttrseraoplin (Mart.) "iilld.

Ucutiba-da-terra-firme, Virola spp. Freij6-branco, Cordia goetdiana -Bignoniaceae Parapara, Vlacarando copaia CAubl.) D. 1)on. Fig.8 Luxurious palm species growing in the INPA ZF- -Gompiaceae Cupiaba, Cozipia glabva Aubl. 2 Study Forest in a logged stand. (Picture taken Source:(Silva,1996) by the author on August 21. 1997)

Table3 Growthef Arnazonian commercialtree specles Height(m) Height(m)&DBH

Vernacular nameBotanical namef Family First 2 years (cm) after 25-35 after seedling years

Angelim vermelho excelsa DuckefLEguminosae-Mimosoideae 50-60/100-180

Castanha do Para Bertholgelia excetsa H.B.K. fLgcythiduceae 30-601100-180 PequiaParica Claio,ocar villosum (Aubl.) PersfCai:,ocaraceae 2o-4s19e-lse grande Schizolobium amazonicum IIuber ex Duckel 40180 Legtfminosae-Caesalpinoideae Sumaama Ceiba Pentand7u (L.) Gaertn, !Bombacaceae 5.0-6.05.04.0-5.04.0330-4ef88lo-3of6e-go Pau de balsa Ochroma Pymmidote (Cav. Ex Lam.) Urb.!Bombacaceae Parapara Ylacara"do coPaia (Aubl.) Don. IBignoniaceae 20-30f6D-90 MognoMorotot6 Stvietenia 7uacroplp,Ua King, fMeliaceae 25-35f50-80 Didymopanacx morototonii (Aubl,} Dcne. et Planch. fAmliaceae O-4 O3.e-4 20-30f60-90 CedroIpa-roxoVirolaJatobSCedrela fissigis Vell. fMegiaceae o3.52 20-35f60-90 71;bebuia i7nj)etiginosa (paIart.) Stancl1. IBignoniaceae 2o-3of6e-go Viivla sun'namensis (Rel.) Warb.!Mb,7isticaceae 5-3.e 25 35f6e 90 llymenaea courbarig L. var. stilboca?Pa/ 15-25/100 Lagtfminosae-Caesaipi;7,oidbae Source:Lorenzi,199Z

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ilies on their impoverished land. The puddles formed after .N=eNtuE

the colonization project began in that region. Malaria and Mato GressoMaranhae poverty are the main barriers to carrying out silvicultural treatrnent in the remaining forests. According to the Amap6AmazonasAcreo10 zoning strategy, 25% of the land in Rondania was destined

for rainforest conservation.

Forest harvesting directly degrades the forest if it is not proper]y managed. Logging in the Brazilian Amazon 20 30 40 50 60 currently damages 6e% of the vegetation cover or it Area of the sustained forests (x 1OS ha)70 destroys an average of two cubic meters of trees for each Fig. 9 Area destined for sustained forests in Legal Am- cubic meter of timber. The effect of logging lasts for 3-4 azonia Zachow, 1998) years in a heavily affected stand, prometing the growth of {Source: light-demanding commercial species. Crown illumination has a strong influence on tree growth, benefiting light-

demanding spec{es soon after Iogging, and lianas take the nomically viable, bringing enrichment of the explorecl area

place ef shadc-tolerant species in heavily logged stands, in without losing the biodiversity. In 199g, there were 2,610 the terra firme forest of Amazonia (Fig.7), followed by plans for sustainable management in that region; however, palm species (Fig. 8 ). Management efficiency is reflected quite a few projects were properly monitored due to laek of at the end of the cutting cycle (an average of 25-35 years experts and surveyors in the forests (Fig. 9 }. In Amazonas in a typical Amazon rainforesO , ancl liana removal within State, the biggest state of Legal Amazonia with

a year before harvesting is essential fer the exploitation of 1,577,820.2km2, there were only 19 inspectors of IBAMA commercial trees, to protect the remaining young species (Institute for Environnient and Renewable Natural

from wasteful felling. Resources) to watch for {]legal logging in 1996. In the

The study forest ZF- 2 of INPA was established with Marniraua Forest Reserve of the same state, an average of six stands of 4 ha each: natural forest as a control, and 7,OOO valuable trees are cut illegally each year. Brazil is an others with cutting rates of 70%, 60%, 50%, 4e% and 3e%, official member of ITTO (International Tropical Timber

Researchers monitored the in order periodically stands to Organization), buttheactual situation does not conform to

measure the vo]ume, increment DBH and mortality rate of the main goal of ITTO-2000: all tropical timber exports trees for each case. The growth increinents of Amazonian should originate frorn sustained forests b}, 2eOO. Consider-

commercial species are shown in Table2, and these data ing the 3,648,OOOkmZ ef Amazonian rainforest, legally

should be taken into account by the foresters in setting the managed forests are limited to 26kmZ. On the other hand, lengthof the cutting cycle. Generally speaking, Amazonian pnvate companies as well as big ranchers and farmers have commercial species grow very quick]y, rcaching 3in-9rn been making effurts at s{lvicultural treatment since 1993. height in the first two years. In the case of some potentially In Legal Amazonia, sustainable management of forests was

cotnmercial species, the DBH increment ismore than 2crn officially introduced in 1992. IIowever, it has not yet been More pcr year. potential species should be incorporated put into pract{ce in , according to IBAMA, into commercial species, thus avoiding over-exploitation of If proper forest management were enforced as a slow-growing species. conclition for granting logging permits by IBAMA, not only should the deforestation rate decrease, permitting sus- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION tainability of the ccosystem, but also it should bring eco- nomic and social benefits to local peop]e. For that purpose, Deforestation from logging was insignifieant until the Brazilian Native Forest Cutting Plan is encouraging 1990 in Legal Amazonia. However, it became an iinportant the Iogging mills to at least four seedlings of native source of income for the local peop]e in the late 1990's. trees per hectare after logg{ng. Lecal people should be Accorcling to Brazi]ian forestry regulations, commercial technically and economically assisted by the governrnent to

size is censidered as being DBH>=45cm. However, in achieve sustainability of their forests. Legal Amazonia, some of the local people cut valuable Silviculture is a very fruitful method for sus- trces whenever and wherever they can, trading i]legally tainability and for wood productivity; however, it does not with clandestine mMs. Ignorance, poverty and greediness result in the development ef cliniax forest. It took hundreds are main the barriers to putting sustainability into practice. and thousands of years to form the or{ginal forest. Zoning

Sustainab]e management of tropical forests is eco- strategies are important in that sense, enabling natural

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1bugncls on Sigviculture and Zbning Stratag]i in the B7a2ilianAmaeonin 45

climax forest to reTnain as it is, clearly distinguishing tuguese) IBGE, : Anuario estatistico do Brasil. Rio de Vol. 56 harvesting forest from conservation forest. {1996) Janeiro, (in Portuguese) The field study has shown the grave consequences of INPE, Brazil, URL http/lfwww.inpe.brf the anthropogenic factor induced in the fragile ecosystem (1998)/Deforestation. ITTO, (1997)/ Annual Review and Assessment of the World Tropical of the Brazilian Arnazon. Of all the measures to be taken Timber Situation. Division of Economic Information and Market by the government, infrastructurc consolidation is the most Intelligence ITTO, Yokohama, Japan, 231pp urgent need at present, in order to radicate the farmers in MARuyAMA, M., (1996):The impact ef deforestation in Brazilian their converted lands and to diminish natural forest cutting Amazonia-Large-scale clearance in Rondonia State-. A disserta- for fuel wood. tion submitted to the Graduate Sehool of Agriculture, Nagoya

University for the degree of Master of Agriculture LITERATURE CITED MilRuyAMA, M. and MoRtoKA, N., (1999)/Land-uses and tropical log

production of Rondonia State in Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia,

Plywood, Sawmill and Manufacturing AiMEx-The Associationof the J. of the Jpn. For. Eng. Soc. Vo]. 14 (O,1-10 Wood Inclustrie$ in the State of Para, (1997):Statistics of Sawn Mc'r-INPAfDFID (1997) Relat6rio Final, Projeto BIONTE, Manaus

Products Exports. -Amazonas, ManufacturedTimber Brazil, 345pp

Brazil Ananindeua, Parfi, SILvA, J.N.M, CARvALHo, J.O.P., LopEs, J,C,A., ALMEIDA, B,F., CosTA, D,

YARED, A. G., BRiENzA JfiNioH,S.,ViEiRA,I. C, G. and J. (1995): H.M. and OmvEiRA, L.C., (1993) / Growth and yield of a tropical rain Consideragaes sobre recuperac:o de areas alteradas por atividades forest of the Brazilian Amazon 13 years after logging. Proceedings

na Amaz6nia brasileira, EM- agropecufiria e floresta] from the IUFRO Conference, Forkskningsserien Nr.3, Copenhagen BRAPACPATU, Belem, 27pp Portuguese) (in {Reeeived 15 November 1999) HiGucm, N., su$tenttivel/ a experiencia do (1997):Desenvolvimento {Accepted 22 June 2000) setor madeireiro, IN MCTINPA DFID, Brazil, 345pp (in Per-

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