Dendrochronology: principles and applications of tree-ring analysis with emphasis ...
Abstract
Primary forests are still predominant in the Brazilian Amazon region. However, the deforestation rates and their consequent impacts are a continuous source of world preoccupation. The practice of vegetation felling and burning for cattle rising is among the most significant causes of tropical forest deterioration. As consequence of burning, there exists a tendency for forest resources losses and impoverishment of the genetic patrimony and of the natural ecosystems. Another negative contribution of this practice is the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), which increases global heating and climate changes. This thematic project is based on the hypothesis that the practice of vegetation felling and burning in the Amazon forest causes severe environment impacts, because it increases the emission rates of GHG and also produces adverse reactions in the soil and in the ecosystem. The main objective of this thematic project is to congregate a multi-disciplinary team to investigate parameters relative to biomass combustion in the Amazon region and its emissions. In order to achieve the main objective, the research activities will be conducted in 2009 and 2011 in the town of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, and, in 2010, in the Caiabi Farm, in the town of Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso. The first theme is the "Monitoring of Carbon Stock and Green House Gases in Systems for Soil Utilization, with and without Combustion of Forest Biomass in the Brazilian Amazon Region". The second theme is the "Determination of Indexes that Quantify Inhalable Particulate Material Emitted by the Burning of Amazon Biomass". The third theme is "Determination of Emission Factors and Combustion Efficiency through Gas Sampling in the Field and in Laboratory". The fourth specific theme is the "Obtainment of Parameters that Characterize Surface Fire Propagation in the Amazon Region Tropical Forest". The research will be developed in the field and in laboratory. The "Obtainment of Parameters for Evaluation of the Numerical Model Developed for Plume Rise by the CPTEC/INPE" is the fifth specific theme of this project. The sixth theme is "Natural Regeneration in Natural Areas and Secondary Succession in Burned Areas in the Occidental Amazon Region". The activities will be developed only in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre. This theme will count on prior experience on similar research conducted in the Caiabi Farm. The next three are themes correlated to the main thematic of this project, and they will take advantage of the infrastructure to be implanted. The seventh theme is the "Study of Biomass Burning Effects on Soil Fungi Biodiversity in the Amazon Region". This research will be conducted only in Cruzeiro do Sul. The "Evaluation of Fire Effects on the Fauna of Amphibians in a Natural Environment in the Town of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre" is the eighth specific theme of the thematic project. The ninth theme is the "Validation of the Utilization of Sentinel Units, by the VIGIAR Program, as a Form of Data Capture Relative to Health Effects by the Alteration of the Air Quality in Regions of Biomass Burning". In order to attain all the objectives of this multidisciplinary research, several researchers with distinct specialties were congregated from several Brazilian institutions: UNESP, INPE, USP, UFAC, UnB, UNITAU, and Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande. Additionally, there will be collaboration from the following foreign institutions: University of Washington and United States Forest Service. (AU)