Potential native timber production in tropical forest restoration plantations

Author(s)

Krainovic, Pedro Medrado ; de Resende, Angelica Faria ; Amazonas, Nino Tavares ; de Almeida, Catherine Torres ; de Almeida, Danilo Roberti Alves ; Silva, Carina Camargo ; de Andrade, Henrique Sverzut Freire ; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro ; Brancalion, Pedro Henrique Santin

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION; v. 21, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2023-11-21.

Abstract

Restoring tropical forests still relies on expensive tree planting. Timber production from native trees offers a promising opportunity to make restoration financially viable, but species growth data are lacking. We assessed the potential of tropical forest restoration plantations for producing native timber in the Atlantic Forest. For that we inventoried a chronosequence of unmanaged restoration plantation sites with ten commercial native tree species. Then we developed growth models and used the Growth-Oriented Logging (GOL) method to inform targeted management decisions, including an optimized timber-focused scenario, based on growth and bole quality assessment. Usually, growth-rate classes for saw wood production would be defined according to the time necessary for achieving 35 cm in DBH. Harvesting age was markedly reduced using GOL for species of fast-growth (from <50 to <25 years), intermediate-growth (from 50 to 70 to 25-50 years), slow-growth (from >70 to 50-75 years). Following GOL, basal area was 42 +/- 30% larger at harvest (taking 35 +/- 23% more time) or 60 +/- 16.5% smaller (taking 66 +/- 16% less time). The optimized scenario speeded tree-size achievement and anticipated harvesting in an average of 58 years. Species selection, individualization, and silvicultural management are critical for producing timber in forest restoration programs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/06694-8 - BIOTA SYNTHESIS - Nucleus of Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions
• Grantee: Jean Paul Walter Metzger
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Problem-Oriented Research Centers in São Paulo
• FAPESP's process: 19/24049-5 - Monitoring São Paulo State restoration forests: application of new remote sensing tools and subsidies for public policies
• Grantee: Angelica Faria de Resende
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 22/07712-5 - Operationalizing policies for forest landscape restoration and forest-based economy
• Grantee: Pedro Medrado Krainovic
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/21338-3 - Monitoring forest landscape restoration from unmanned aerial vehicles using Lidar and hyperspectral remote sensing
• Grantee: Danilo Roberti Alves de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/06734-0 - Unravelling landscape drivers of forest recovery in a successional perspective
• Grantee: Catherine Torres de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/18416-2 - Understanding restored forests for benefiting people and nature - NewFor
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants