The contribution of multiple use forest management to small farmers' annual incomes in the Eastern Amazon

Small-scale farmers in the Brazilian Amazon collectively hold tenure over more than 12 million ha of permanent forest reserves, as required by the Forest Code. The trade-off between forest conservation and other land uses entails opportunity costs for them and for the country, which have not been sufficiently studied. We assessed the potential income generated by multiple use forest management for farmers and compared it to the income potentially derived from six other agricultural land uses. Income from the forest was from (i) logging, carried out by a logging company in partnership with farmers' associations; and (ii) harvesting the seeds of Carapa guianensis (local name andiroba) for the production of oil. We then compared the income generated by multiple-use forest management with the income from different types of agrarian systems. According to our calculations in this study, the mean annual economic benefits from multiple forest use are the same as the least productive agrarian system, but only 25% of the annual income generated by the most productive system. Although the income generated by logging may be considered low when calculated on an annual basis and compared to incomes generated by agriculture, the one-time payment after logging is significant (US$5,800 to US$33,508) and could be used to implement more intensive and productive cropping systems such as planting black pepper. The income from forest management could also be used to establish permanent fields in deforested areas for highly productive annual crops using conservation agriculture techniques. These techniques are alternatives to the traditional land use based on periodic clearing of the forest. Nevertheless, the shift in current practices towards adoption of more sustainable conservation agriculture techniques will also require the technical and legal support of the State to help small farmers apply these alternatives, which aim to integrate forest management in sustainable agricultural production systems.

Succession and management of tropical dry forests in the Americas: Review and new perspectives

Understanding tropical forest succession is critical for the development of tropical forest conservation strategies worldwide, given that tropical secondary forests can be considered the forests of the future. Tropical dry forests (TDF) are among the most threatened tropical ecosystems, there are more secondary forests and forest restoration efforts that require a better understanding of successional processes. The main goal of this synthesis for this special issue on the ecology and management of tropical dry forests in the Americas is to present a summarized review of the current knowledge of the ecology and management implications associated to TDF succession. We explore specific issues associated to tropical dry forest succession with emphasis on the use of chronosequences, plant diversity and composition, plant phenology and remote sensing, pollination, and animal-plant interactions; all under the integrating umbrella of ecosystem succession. We also emphasize the need to conduct socio-ecological research to understand changes in land-use history and its effects on succession and forest regeneration of TDF. We close this paper with some thoughts and ideas associated with the strong need for an integrating dimension not considered until today: the role of cyberinfrastructure and eco-informatics as a tool to support sound conservation, management and understanding of TDF in the Americas. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Soil seed banks in tropical forest fragments with different disturbance histories in southeastern Brazil

Soil seed banks are considered an important mechanism for natural regeneration in tropical forest ecosystems. This paper investigated the soil seed bank in two semideciduous seasonal tropical forest fragments with different disturbance histories in Botucatu, southeastern Brazil. In each study site, 40 superficial soil samples (30 cm × 30 cm × 5 cm) were taken at the end of both the dry and rainy seasons. The seeds were estimated by the germination method. Average soil seed density was 588.6 and 800.3 seeds m-2, respectively, for site 1 (less disturbed) and site 2 (more disturbed). Seed density and diversity (H′) were significantly higher in site 2 in both seasons. Non-woody taxa predominated in both fragments, but pioneer tree species were better represented in the less disturbed forest. Both ecosystems have a potential for regeneration from soil seed banks, but this potential is higher in the less disturbed site. Low richness and density of pioneer tree species in the seed bank indicate that the ecosystem has lost its resilience. The seed bank is not as important in these ecosystems as in other forests. Results indicate that management strategies to restore these forests should take into account the possibility of recovering soil seed bank processes and dynamics. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Environmental solutions of recovery of Amazonian forest mining operations

In order for the projects of recovery of degraded areas to be successful, it is necessary to have a perfect recovery of the soil where the revegetation will be implanted as an initial action in the recovery of the whole process. The use of native forest species fully adapted to these types of terrain is another aspect of great importance, once the non-selection of these species, even if abundant in the surrounding areas, as it is in our case, implies great mortality of individuals during the planting and their low fixation during the process. The establishment of a monitoring program that contemplates the advancements obtained in the soil, the vegetation and the return of wild animals also collaborate in the evaluation of the success of the process. And, finally, the effective participation of the mining company, accepting and applying the techniques tested and indicated by research, even if, initially, the return time is longer than expected, also guarantees the success of the process. The mining company not only implemented a partnership with important universities in Brazil to obtain solutions for the environmental problems but also applied the developed techniques and the monitoring program. In the present work, we have attempted to summarize important aspects to evaluate the advancements in the rehabilitation plan for those areas, being here presented some results of the monitoring of areas under different levels of recovery, in accordance with the techniques adopted. Biological parameters of the soil were used to verify the efficiency of these different techniques in the recovery process. This work is part of the monitoring program of areas in rehabilitation by the mining company, implemented as of 1999 and in partnership with universities. The microbial activity was determined through the quantification of the carbon and nitrogen microbial biomass (BMC and BMN) and the activity of the dehydrogenase evaluated in the mining floor and tailing areas in different levels of soil preparation and planting of native species. The analysis of the parameters studied revealed that the preparation of the soil, following the three years proposed by the methodology, was important for the success in establishing the rehabilitation process. Some of the areas analyzed already show some parameters with values close or superior to those found in the capoeira (secondary forest), the latter being the non-treated area. © 2010 WIT Press.

Influence of Agroforestry and Traditional Management of Maize (Zea mays L.) on Soil Fertility

The aim of the work was to evaluate soil nutrient concentration at 0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm in maize (Zea mays L.) grown in sequence with black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) under Leucaena diversifolia alley cropping agroforestry system (AFS) and traditional management system/sole crop (without trees-TS), following a randomized block design. The experiment was carried out at the Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture, in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The treatments were: control (C), chemical fertilizer (F), biomass of L. diversifolia alley cropping (B), and biomass of L. diversifolia alley cropping + chemical fertilizer (B+F). After 2 yr, it was observed that pH, organic matter, and nutrient content had a tendency to show higher values in the treatments biomass+fertilizer, biomass, and fertilizer application, in both systems. Higher values in pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sum of bases, cation exchange capacity, percentage base saturation, boron, copper, and manganese tended to occur in the agroforestry system. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Can overharvesting of a non-timber-forest-product change the regeneration dynamics of a tropical rainforest? The case study of Euterpe edulis

The exploitation of non-timber forest products is often considered a low-impact activity in tropical forests. However, assessments of the impacts of such activity are mostly focused on the harvested species and not on the plant community, thus limiting our understanding for establishing forest management recommendations. We investigated the consequences of Euterpe edulis palm heart harvesting on the seed rain in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. We compared the density of E. edulis individuals, as well as the density of E. edulis seeds, and the density, richness and functional composition of seed rain of the whole plant community, before and after palm heart harvesting in a 10 ha permanent plot. This assessment was carried out in preserved (typical old-growth Atlantic rainforest) and in disturbed (more open habitat dominated by the native bamboo Guadua tagoara) forest patches. Palm harvesting reduced the E. edulis population from 202.16 to 25.67 ind/ha and its seed rain density from 0.362 to 0.3 seeds/m2 and from 2.395 to 0.15 seeds/m2 in preserved and disturbed forest patches, respectively. Seed density of light-dependent climbers, pioneer trees, bamboo and animal-dispersed seeds increased after palm harvesting, especially in the disturbed forest patches, where palm harvesting was more intense and may have changed the light regime of the understory. On the other hand, species richness of the plant community declined by half. We observed a remarkable decline in the number of animal-dispersed species, especially for those with large seeds, suggesting that the activity of seed dispersers, including many species attracted by E. edulis fruits, was reduced. Therefore, harvesting of E. edulis palm heart may change the regeneration dynamics of the Atlantic rainforest, both due to shifts in forest structure, mediated by the removal of individuals from the forest canopy, and in community functioning, mediated by the interference on the activity of seed dispersers. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interação entre manejo de plantas daninhas e adubação de cobertura no crescimento inicial de Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ocorrência de Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1882) na Floresta Nacional do Jamari, estado de Rondônia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Density and spatial distribution of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and Atta laevigata colonies (Hym., Formicidae) in Eucalyptus spp. forests

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Roadside vegetation: estimation and potential for carbon sequestration

The present paper reports the assessment of the vegetation occupancy rate of the roadside, through analysis of aerial photographs. Using such value the potential of these areas to be employed as carbon (C) sinks was also assessed. Moreover, for the areas suitable for afforestation, the potential for carbon sequestration was estimated considering different species of vegetation, both native (scenario 1) and exotic (formed by Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. - scenario 2). The study was carried out through GIS techniques and two regions were considered. A set of equations was used to estimate the rate of occupancy over the study areas, as well as amounts of fixed C under the above scenarios. The average occupancy rate was 0.06%. The simulation showed a higher potential for C sequestration in scenario 2, being the estimated amounts of CO(2) sequestered from the atmosphere per km of roadside: 131 tons of CO(2) km(-1) of highway to native species and 655 tons of CO(2) km(-1) of highway for exotic species (over period of 10 years for both estimates). If we consider the whole road network of the São Paulo State (approximately 190 000 km) and that a considerable part of this road work is suitable to receive this kind of service, it is possible to predict the very high potential for C sequestration if managers and planners consider roadside as area for afforestation.

Relação do meio físico com o manejo sustentável de plantio de eucalipto em áreas de terrenos acidentados - A Fazenda Santa Edwirges, Vale do Paraíba, Sudeste do Brasil

This study intends to evaluate the effects of landscape physical elements (rocks and relief) associated with silviculture activities. The study was carried out on a small farm (Fazenda Santa Edwirges) covered by Eucalyptus forested situated in the Paraiba do Sul Basin, Southeast Brazil. The methodology consisted of detailed geological and geomorphological studies at 1:10,000 scale, and laboratory analysis of soil physical properties. The results showed three geologic-geomorphologic associations (ridge escarpment with granitic rocks, steep and gentle hills cut by shear zones and gentle hill with alluvial sediments) present high vulnerability for the development of the physical processes such as accelerated erosion landslides and flooding. In contrast, mountains associated with gneissic rocks present smaller vulnerability and high resilience for the development of the physical processes. The results have showed the importance of considering the interactions among landscape physical for the eucalyptus forest management contributing to a better selection area for eucalyptus cultivation and minimize adverse environment impact in road design.

Variação genética em progênies de jacaranda cuspidifolia mart. Utilizando o delineamento sistemático tipo leque

Knowledge of genetic variation in native tree species has helped direct strategies of genetic ex situ conservation, based on provenances and progenies tests. These tests use fixed spacing, not allowing evaluating the behavior of different progenies under this management variable. One way to evaluate simultaneously the genetic variation and different spacing in a small planting area is to use a systematic design. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic variation and to evaluate its performance in Jacaranda cuspidifolia under different spacing. We used a progeny test in a systematic fan design, arranged in a system of 30 concentric rays, with one progeny per ray, randomly, at angles of 12°. The plants were arranged in rays in geometric progression of ratio 1.21, corresponding to nine for plant spacing: 1,95 m2; 2,86 m2; 4,18 m2; 6,12 m2; 8,96 m2; 13,12 m2; 19,21 m2; 28,13 m2; e 41,19 m 2 installed in Selvíria/MS. The traits height, height diameter of 30 cm to soil (DA3) and survival were evaluated at 12 and 24 months of age. Estimates of genetic parameters and spacing were evaluated using the procedure REML/BLUP (restricted maximum likelihood / best linear unbiased prediction). The progenies showed genetic variation, showing that the sample strategy to ex situ conservation was efficient. The species showed good adaptability inthe field and the best performance in treating five, equivalent to a 3 × 3 m spacing, with 8,96 m2;/plant for all traits. The fan systematic design permitted to evaluate in a small area the silvicultural behavior of J. Cuspidifolia plants in spacing varying from 2 to 42 m2/plant (5.000 to 238 trees/ha); which could hardly be evaluat by the traditional designs.

Selecting for rust (Puccinia psidii) resistance in Eucalyptus grandis in São Paulo State, Brazil

In Brazil, Eucalyptus grandis is a key species for wood production. However, some genotypes are susceptible to rust (Puccinia psidii), mainly in São Paulo State, where climatic conditions are favorable for its development. Rust represents a high economic risk to forest companies because of the high potential of damage to commercial eucalypt plantations. The aims of the present study were (i) to select progenies of E. grandis for stability and adaptability regarding resistance to rust at different locations; (ii) compare the selections under these different climatic conditions; and (iii) compare rust severity in the field with the theoretical model. We observed that climatic conditions were extremely influential factors for rust development, but even under favorable conditions for disease development, we found rust-resistant progenies. In sites unfavorable for rust development, we detected highly susceptible progenies. We found significant correlation among the genetic material, environmental conditions and disease symptoms, however, we observed a simple genotype-environmental interaction and significant genetic variability among the progenies. The average heritability was high among the progenies in all sites, indicating substantial genetic control for rust resistance. We also observed a good relationship between rust severity in the field and the theoretical model that considered annual average temperature and leaf wetness. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

A extração e a indústria da madeira no município de Rio Branco - AC

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Uso e manejo de plantas alimentares em ambientes agrícolas e florestais em Iporanga, SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)