Forest Degradation in the Southwest Brazilian Amazon: Impact on Tree Species of Economic Interest and Traditional Use

Author(s):Show less -

Costa, Jessica Gomes ; Fearnside, Philip Martin ; Oliveira, Igor ; Anderson, Liana Oighenstein ; Oliveira e Cruz de Aragao, Luiz Eduardo ; Negreiros Almeida, Marllus Rafael ; Clemente, Francisco Salatiel ; Nascimento, Eric de Souza ; Souza, Geane da Conceicao ; Karlokoski, Adriele ; Flores de Melo, Antonio Willian ; de Araujo, Edson Alves ; Souza, Rogerio Oliveira ; Lima de Alencastro Graca, Paulo Mauricio ; da Silva, Sonaira Souza

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FIRE-SWITZERLAND; v. 6, n. 6, p. 15-pg., 2023-06-01.

Abstract

Amazonian biodiversity has been used for generations by human populations, especially by Indigenous peoples and traditional communities in their cultural, social and economic practices. However, forest degradation, driven by forest fires, has threatened the maintenance of these resources. This study examined the effects of recent forest fires on species with timber, non-timber and multiple-use potential in Brazil's state of Acre. Forest inventories in five forest types were analyzed, identifying species with timber, non-timber and multiple-use potential based on a review of existing scientific articles, books and studies in the technical literature. The indicators of the effect of forest fires on species density were based on the mean and standard deviation of tree density and absolute abundance. We found that 25% of the tree individuals have potential for use by humans, 12.6% for timber, 10.7% non-timber and 1.4% have multiple-use potential. With the negative impact of fire, the reduction in timber, non-timber and multiple-use potential can range from 2 to 100%, depending on the vegetation type and especially on the recurrence of fire. However, even in forests that are degraded by fire, species that are useful to humans can be maintained to a certain degree and contribute to other environmental services, thus they must be preserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/08916-8 - Prediction of forest degradation as a subsidy for mitigating actions to preventing fires and wildfires
• Grantee: Liana Oighenstein Anderson
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I
• Grantee: Julio Romano Meneghini
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 21/07660-2 - Voices of recovery
• Grantee: Liana Oighenstein Anderson
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants