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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Fake legal logging in the Brazilian Amazon

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Author(s):
Brancalion, Pedro H. S. [1] ; de Almeida, Danilo R. A. [1] ; Vidal, Edson [1] ; Molin, Paulo G. [2] ; Sontag, Vanessa E. [1] ; Souza, Saulo E. X. F. [1] ; Schulze, Mark D. [3]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Forest Sci, Av Padua Dias 11, POB 9, BR-13418900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Nat Sci, Rua Serafim Libaneo 04, POB 64, BR-18245970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] HJ Andrews Expt Forest & Oregon State Univ, POB 300, Blue River, OR 97413 - USA
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: SCIENCE ADVANCES; v. 4, n. 8 AUG 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 7
Abstract

Declining deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon are touted as a conservation success, but illegal logging is a problem of similar scale. Recent regulatory efforts have improved detection of some forms of illegal logging but are vulnerable to more subtle methods that mask the origin of illegal timber. We analyzed discrepancies between estimated timber volumes of the national forest inventory of Brazil and volumes of logging permits as an indicator of potential fraud in the timber industry in the eastern Amazon. We found a strong overestimation bias of high-value timber species volumes in logging permits. Field assessments confirmed fraud for the most valuable species and complementary strategies to generate a ``surplus{''} of licensed timber that can be used to legalize the timber coming from illegal logging. We advocate for changes to the logging control system to prevent overexploitation of Amazonian timber species and the widespread forest degradation associated with illegal logging. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/50718-5 - Ecological restoration of riparian forests, native forest of economic production and of degraded forest fragments (in APP and RL) based on restoration ecology of reference ecosystems in order to scientifically test the precepts of the New Brazilian Forest Code
Grantee:Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 16/05219-9 - Monitoring forest landscape restoration through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR).
Grantee:Danilo Roberti Alves de Almeida
Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate