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The Amazonian forest sector and the adoption of sound forest management practices in the Brazilian Amazon. Marco W. Lentini, M. Sc. Amazon program coordinator WWF Brazil. Outline. Forest management and legality in the Brazilian forest sector
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The Amazonianforest sector andtheadoptionofsoundforest management practices in theBrazilian Amazon Marco W. Lentini, M. Sc. Amazon programcoordinator WWF Brazil
Outline • Forest management and legality in the Brazilian forest sector • Our practical experience in the application of sound FM practices • Context analysis: how much Brazil needs the development of a forest sector based upon the management of natural forests? • Main perspectives and problems for a sustainable forest sector in Brazil
Forest management andlegality in theBrazilianforestsector • Amazonian forest sector has a small economic contribution for the Brazilian forest sector, strongly based on plantation forests (< 5% of the value of forestry products exported by Brazil in 2011/12). • In the Amazon, however, the forest sector is important for income and job generation (5% of the rural jobs in the region) • Forest sector in the Amazon is largely illegal. Official control and monitoring systems are heavily susceptible to frauds. • The pace of deforestation is starting to slow down, but the challenge is the implementation of a new forest code.
Forest management andlegality in theBrazilianforestsector • Illegal logging tends to grow due to the fragility of control systems and the intense urbanization and consumption of basic goods within the Amazon (80% of the Amazonian population is urban and at least 20% of the timber production is consumed locally). That represents a risk for tax evasion, growth of informal jobs, and increase in local conflicts with rural populations. • Illegal logging impoverishes forests and increase their likelihood to be deforested in a few years. • Likelihood of being arrested by illegal logging is extremely low (< 1% of the cases) • Great opportunities: concessions in public forests and land available for CFM.
A fewforestrystatistics: FSC Certifiedarea Communities NTFPs Timbercompanies Plantations FSC certifiedarea (MM hectares) Year Source: FSC
Public Forests underconcession in theBrazilian Amazon Source: IMAZON, 2012
Are under ilegal logging in the 2 major Amazonianstateproducers (k hectares) Year Source: IMAZON, 2012
A synthesis: probable illegality in the Amazonian forest secotor
Our practical experience in the application of sound FM practices
Brazil has the necessary tools and knowledge to do good forest management. Examples: • Management systems: Celos, IFT/Imazon • Some training facilities: IFT, Funtac, among others • Technology: precision management – Modeflora/Embrapa • Brazil has the necessary extent of public lands to maintain sustainably the forest sector • However, there is a lack of professionals to implement sound forest management
Qualityofthe FMP evaluated in Pará State (08/2007 – 07/2011) % ofquality Medium Low High Source: IMAZON, 2012
Estimateddemand for trainedprofessionalstoaddress Conservation challenges in FM Source: Lentini et al., 2009
Major points in termsofsound FM application in thefield • Most timber CFM and company-based enterprises, even the legal ones, do not adopt entirely sound practices in the field • Over time, this problem will compromise forest quality and its capacity in maintaining biodiversity and environmental services • A sustainable timber sector can only be created from investments in practical training and the creation of specialists in critical areas, such as: • Parataxonomists • Forest technicians • Working safety and ergonomy
Context analysis: how much Brazil needs the development of a forest sector based upon the management of natural forests?
Publicforests in the Amazon • Control of public lands. At least 75% of the Amazon is public lands. FM is a good strategy in a portion of these lands to conciliate long term sustainability and livelihoods. • At least 2 MM people live on public forests in the Amazon Source: SFB, 2014.
Source: INPE, 2014. • Curbing deforestation. Despite all investment from government in controlling and monitoring deforestation, it might increase again. Cattle ranching and large-scale agriculture are the main drivers. Valuing forests continue to be the best alternative against deforestation. # ofcattleindividuals Source: IMAZON, 2012
The Brazilian Forest Code • Enacted in 2012 • Weakened conservation criteria • Solving environmental liabilities (land registry) and restoration of forests • In Brazil, goal of restoring 20 MM ha in 20 years • Opportunity for compensation (concept of smart compensation in development by WWF Brazil)
Establishment of a new forestry industry based on planted forests, both for production (pulp, charcoal) as for restoration liabilities. • Need to implement a new forest industry based on natural forests while planted forests can assume this role in 20 years or more. Source: IMAZON, 2012
Otherfactors • Growth of Amazonian cities and middle-class population • Stability of hydrological crisis in southeastern Brazil and productivity of commodities in center-western Brazil • Long-term scarcity of planted forests for civil construction and energy in southeastern Brazil.
Compliance with the Forest Code and recovery of 20 MM hectares of forests in Brazil • Legality issues: advancing with legal verification and tracking of timber production • WWF/RAA Tropical timber roundtable • New technologies (i.e., isotopes, near-infrared readers) • Forest positive agendas in the states • Achieving ZNND (zero-net deforestation and degradation)
Thankyou WWF.ORG.BR marcolentini@wwf.org.br