GEO Brasil - UNEP

the state of forests
the state of the environmet in Brazil
3 3
T able 5 - B razilian production of saw n timber, per source (10 m )
Year
T otal
Coniferous
Leafy A raucaria P inus T otal of coniferous
Total of Sawn
Timber
1971 3,440 3,505 0 3,505 6,945
1972 3,000 3,515 0 3,515 6,515
1973 3,115 2,975 0 2,975 6,090
1974 3,735 2,980 0 2,980 6,715
1975 4,550 2,755 0 2,755 7,305
1976 5,315 2,865 0 2,865 8,180
1977 5,905 2,655 0 2,655 8,560
1978 6,355 2,600 15 2,615 8,970
1979 6,450 2,030 55 2,085 8,535
1980 7,580 1,800 130 1,930 9,510
1981 8,140 1,280 200 1,480 9,620
1982 8,650 1,020 335 1,355 10,005
1983 8,905 630 385 1,015 9,920
1984 9,290 660 520 1,180 10,470
1985 9,330 410 700 1,110 10,440
1986 9,730 320 940 1,260 10,990
1987 9,530 395 1,235 1,630 11,160
1990 10,930 2,800 13,820
1991 12,200 3,500 15,700
1992 12,410 3,480 15,890
1993 12,620 3,720 16,340
1994 12,830 3,780 16,610
1995 13,230 3,950 17,180
1996 13,650 4,050 17,700
1997 14,250 4,250 18,500
1998 14,000 4,200 18,200
1999 14,400 4,500 18,900
2000 14,850 4,790 19,640
Source: STCP, ABIMCI, ABPM, SBS
The expansion of the occupation frontier to the Amazon from the 1970s on
generated a great supply of native forest wood, which caused a radical change in
the configuration of the mechanically processed wood sub-sector’s production
Table 5 historic series allows a clear observation of the changes While there was
a gradual reduction in the Araucarian wood supply, there was also a growing
increase in the offer of Pinus offer But the changes in the profile of sawed wood
production really occurred due to an increased offer of leafy trees, which in 2000
Table 6 - Export and import of forest products in B rasil - 2000
Category World position Value (1,000US $) %World Total
Export 12 5,218,431 3.70
Import 26 1,003,481 0.66
presented the equivalent of the triple
of the coniferous tree wood
production, while in 1971 the volumes
were practically equivalent
As for the market for forest products,
in spite of being one of the world’s
largest wood producers, Brazil has a
modest position in the global market
According to FAO data (Table 6),
Brazilian exports of forest-based
products corresponded to US$ 52
thousand million in 2000, in a market
turning over about US$140 thousand
million per year Nevertheless, this
amount put the country in the twelft
position in the forest products export
rank On the other hand, the country
imported US$ 1 thousand million in
the same year, ranking in the twentysixth
position among importers The
profile of exports (Table 7, excluding
furniture) shows that cellulose, paper
and wood were the main items
exported
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),
the country’s most expensive wood,
is an endangered species due to
intensive and illegal extraction The
management plan is potentially one
of the most effective tools for the
sustainable use of mahogany in the
region One of the alternatives under
study at IBAMA is a partnership with
the National Indian Foundation
(FUNAI – Fundação Nacional do Índio)
to protect the illegally extracted
mahogany in indigenous reserves and
to avoid disloyal competition is to
teach correct and sustainable ways for
wood use to the indigenous peoples
themselves
Mahogany exploitation was forbidden
in October 2001 Unfolded in boards
for export and trade it is worth up to
US$ 1,500 per cubic metre abroad
Transformed into furniture or other
Source: FAO - 2000
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