Continuous inventory forestry in the Amapá State Forest: dynamics tree species and dimension unit amotral

A abordagem deste trabalho foi centrada no estudo da dinâmica e dimensão de unidades amostrais para inventário florestal contínuo em uma Floresta Ombrófila Densa de Terra Firme localizada na unidade de conservação de uso sustentável denominada Floresta Estadual do Amapá, no município de Porto Grande. Na área, foram implantadas cinco parcelas permanentes de 100 m x100 m (1ha) cada, estabelecidas de acordo com os critérios da rede de monitoramento da dinâmica de florestas da Amazônia, com nível de inclusão das árvores abrangendo DAP≥ 10 cm. As avaliações foram realizadas em duas ocasiões, 2010 e 2016. Foi avaliado o incremento periódico anual em diâmetro, área basal e volume para a floresta, assim como o incremento em volume por espécie e por Grupo de Valor Madeireiro (GVM) e as taxas de ingresso e mortalidade. Além disso, foi verificada a dimensão da unidade amostral ideal a ser utilizada em inventários contínuos, com base na sua precisão e eficiência na estimativa dos parâmetros quantitativos avaliados (IPA em diâmetro, área basal e volume e área basal e volume). Foram simuladas cinco dimensões de parcelas variando de 400 m2 a 1600 m2 alocadas de forma aleatória dentro das parcelas permanentes de um ha (parcela padrão). Foram cronometrados os tempos totais de mensuração nas parcelas, desde a primeira à última árvore, por unidade amostral. Os valores médios para as taxas de mortalidade e ingresso encontradas no período de 2010-2016 foram de 1,47% e 0,93% respectivamente. Os incrementos periódicos anuais (IPA) em diâmetro, área basal e volume para o povoamento foram respectivamente: 0,24 cm; 0,45 m2.ha-1; 4,70 m3.ha-1. As espécies que obtiveram maiores incrementos em volume foram Eschweilera sp, Inga auristellae, Iryanthera paraenses, Theobroma subincanum e Tachigali myrmecophila. As dimensões testadas foram analisadas pela sua precisão e eficiência relativa na estimativa das variáveis de crescimento e estoque. As dimensões que apresentram a maior eficiência relativa foram às unidades de 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) e 40 x 40 m (1600 m2). A floresta em estudo apresentou um balanço negativo no período analisado, no entanto apresentou um aumento nas variáveis de crescimento e indicaram potencial volumétrico para fins de manejo e quanto às dimensões a serem utilizadas em inventário florestal contínuo na região, dependendo da finalidade do inventário, como aqueles com alto rigor quantitativo para as variáveis de estoque, pode-se optar pelo método mais preciso, na qual se recomenda a parcela padrão. Já para o acompanhamento das variáveis de crescimento, recomendam-se parcelas de 20 m x 20 m que foram mais efetivas.The approach of this study was focused on the dynamic and dimension of sample units for continuous forest inventory in a dense ombrophilous rain forest, located in the conservation unit of sustainable use called State of Amapá Forest, in the city of Porto Grande. In the area, there were established five permanent plots of 100 m x 100 m (1ha) each, established in accordance with the criteria of the monitoring network of the dynamics of Amazon forests, with level of inclusion of trees covering DBH≥ 10 cm. The evaluations were carried out in two occasions, 2010 and 2016. It was calculated the periodic annual increment (PAI) in diameter, basal area and volume, as well as the increase in volume per species and by the Logging Value Group (LVG) and the rates of entry and mortality. In addition, it was evaluated the dimension (area and shape) of sampling unit ideal for use in continuous inventories in the Amazon forests, evaluating its accuracy and efficiency in the estimation of quantitative parameters evaluated (PAI in diameter, basal area and volume and also basal area and volume just for the year 2016). There were simulated five dimensions of plots ranging from 400 m2 to 1600 m2 allocated randomly inside the permanent plots. There were measured the time of installation and measurement of the plots, from the first to the last tree. The average values for mortality and admission rates found in the period 2010-2016 were 1.47% and 0.93%. The periodic annual increments in diameter, basal area and volume were respectively: 0,24 cm-1; 0,45 m2.ha-1; 4.70 m3.ha-1. Among the species that obtained the largest increases in volume are Eschweilera sp, Inga auristellae, Iryanthera paraenses, Theobroma subincanum and Tachigali myrmecophila. The dimensions tested were analyzed for their accuracy and method relative efficiency in estimating growth and stock variables. The dimensions that presented the greatest relative efficiency were the units of 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) and 40 x 40 m (1600 m2). The forest under study presented a negative balance in the analyzed period, however it presented an increase in the growth variables and indicated the volumetric potential for management purposes. The dimensions indicated for continuous forest inventory in the region, depending on the purpose of the inventory, as those with high quantitative rigor for the stock variables, the standard plot with 100 m x 100 m is recommended. Already for the monitoring of growth variables, plots of 20 m x 20 m are effective and recommended.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPE

Diversity and Big Tree Patterns in the Brazilian Amazon

The increasing availability of field data presents an opportunity to understand the fundamental ecological relationships and functions of large trees in tropical forests at regional and global scales. However, it is not always clear what the relationships or patterns of diversity and structure are among sites in different biogeographic regions. We evaluated the relationship of the biomass and diameter of the largest trees with a diversity of species and compared, between the sites, the attributes of structure, diversity, and the influence of the 50 hyperdominant species in each site, aiming at the potential formation of groups by sites with characteristics and patterns of similar diversity within biogeographic regions. The average wood density together with the diversity of genera and families are the most important attributes to discriminate biogeographic regions when considering all forest information. Large trees play a fundamental role in forest ecology and seem to express regional environmental characteristics. The upper canopy of tropical forests remains one of the least studied environments in all terrestrial biomes, and is often referred to as “the last biotic frontier” or a “black box,” and large trees are also part of this mysterious frontier

COST OF OPPORTUNITY: ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS OF COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT BY LAND USE

CUSTO DE OPORTUNIDADE: COMPETITIVIDADE ECONÔMICA DO MANEJO FLORESTAL COMUNITÁRIO EM RELAÇÃO AOS USOS DA TERRA A estruturação de uma economia florestal consolidada na região amazônica seria uma contribuição sem precedentes para a conservação e benefícios socioeconômicos a comunidade rural. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre competitividade econômica do manejo florestal comunitário de uso múltiplo em relação aos diferentes usos da terra na Amazônia, elucidando as principais causas e possíveis soluções para o fortalecimento e valorização da economia florestal de base familiar na região. Logo, os estudos relatam que, a atratividade financeira da produção florestal dada pelo manejo florestal comunitário é relativamente limitada quando comparada com outras opções de uso da terra, como por exemplo, a agricultura. Isto se deve a um conjunto de fatores tais como: os insumos iniciais ou administrativos são altos, a demanda por subsídios constantes, os preços para os produtos são geralmente baixos e grandes desafios em termos de infraestrutura, além dos processos longos e burocráticos envolvidos na obtenção da documentação para o estabelecimento do plano de manejo. Deste modo, no intuito de se oportunizar de fato ao manejo de floresta é necessário focar no planejamento da exploração, controle da produção, inserção de novas tecnologias e política florestal que vise realizar junto às comunidades uma orientação para uso múltiplo da floresta.Palavras-chave: gestão, produção familiar, uso múltiplo. ABSTRACT: The structuring of a consolidated forest economy in the Amazon region would be an unprecedented contribution to the conservation and socioeconomics of the rural community. Therefore, the objective of this work was to conduct a literature review on the economic competitiveness of multiple-use community-forest management by land use in the Amazon region and thus elucidate the main causes and possible solutions for strengthening and enhancing a family-based forest economy in the region. Studies reported that despite the importance of the forest, the financial attractiveness of forest production under community-forest management was relatively limited when compared to other land-use options, such as agriculture. This was due to a set of factors, such as high initial or administrative costs, the demand for constant subsidies, low product prices, big challenges regarding infrastructure, and the long and bureaucratic process involved in obtaining the documentation necessary to establish a management plan. Thus, to effectively opt for forest management, it is necessary to focus on the planning of exploration, production control, insertion of new technologies and, forestry policy that aim to realize an orientation for multiple forest uses within the communities.Keywords: management, family production, multiple use. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2318-7670.v05n04a0

Cost of Opportunity: Economic Competitiveness of Community Forest Management by Land Use

CUSTO DE OPORTUNIDADE: COMPETITIVIDADE ECONÔMICA DO MANEJO FLORESTAL COMUNITÁRIO EM RELAÇÃO AOS USOS DA TERRA A estruturação de uma economia florestal consolidada na região amazônica seria uma contribuição sem precedentes para a conservação e benefícios socioeconômicos a comunidade rural. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre competitividade econômica do manejo florestal comunitário de uso múltiplo em relação aos diferentes usos da terra na Amazônia, elucidando as principais causas e possíveis soluções para o fortalecimento e valorização da economia florestal de base familiar na região. Logo, os estudos relatam que, a atratividade financeira da produção florestal dada pelo manejo florestal comunitário é relativamente limitada quando comparada com outras opções de uso da terra, como por exemplo, a agricultura. Isto se deve a um conjunto de fatores tais como: os insumos iniciais ou administrativos são altos, a demanda por subsídios constantes, os preços para os produtos são geralmente baixos e grandes desafios em termos de infraestrutura, além dos processos longos e burocráticos envolvidos na obtenção da documentação para o estabelecimento do plano de manejo. Deste modo, no intuito de se oportunizar de fato ao manejo de floresta é necessário focar no planejamento da exploração, controle da produção, inserção de novas tecnologias e política florestal que vise realizar junto às comunidades uma orientação para uso múltiplo da floresta.Palavras-chave: gestão, produção familiar, uso múltiplo. ABSTRACT: The structuring of a consolidated forest economy in the Amazon region would be an unprecedented contribution to the conservation and socioeconomics of the rural community. Therefore, the objective of this work was to conduct a literature review on the economic competitiveness of multiple-use community-forest management by land use in the Amazon region and thus elucidate the main causes and possible solutions for strengthening and enhancing a family-based forest economy in the region. Studies reported that despite the importance of the forest, the financial attractiveness of forest production under community-forest management was relatively limited when compared to other land-use options, such as agriculture. This was due to a set of factors, such as high initial or administrative costs, the demand for constant subsidies, low product prices, big challenges regarding infrastructure, and the long and bureaucratic process involved in obtaining the documentation necessary to establish a management plan. Thus, to effectively opt for forest management, it is necessary to focus on the planning of exploration, production control, insertion of new technologies and, forestry policy that aim to realize an orientation for multiple forest uses within the communities.Keywords: management, family production, multiple use. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2318-7670.v05n04a0

Giants of the Amazon: how does environmental variation drive the diversity patterns of large trees?

For more than three decades, major efforts in sampling and analyzing tree diversity in South America have focused almost exclusively on trees with stems of at least 10 and 2.5 cm diameter, showing highest species diversity in the wetter western and northern Amazon forests. By contrast, little attention has been paid to patterns and drivers of diversity in the largest canopy and emergent trees, which is surprising given these have dominant ecological functions. Here, we use a machine learning approach to quantify the importance of environmental factors and apply it to generate spatial predictions of the species diversity of all trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm) and for very large trees (dbh ≥ 70 cm) using data from 243 forest plots (108,450 trees and 2832 species) distributed across different forest types and biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Amazon. The diversity of large trees and of all trees was significantly associated with three environmental factors, but in contrasting ways across regions and forest types. Environmental variables associated with disturbances, for example, the lightning flash rate and wind speed, as well as the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation, tend to govern the diversity of large trees. Upland rainforests in the Guiana Shield and Roraima regions had a high diversity of large trees. By contrast, variables associated with resources tend to govern tree diversity in general. Places such as the province of Imeri and the northern portion of the province of Madeira stand out for their high diversity of species in general. Climatic and topographic stability and functional adaptation mechanisms promote ideal conditions for species diversity. Finally, we mapped general patterns of tree species diversity in the Brazilian Amazon, which differ substantially depending on size class

Giants of the Amazon:How does environmental variation drive the diversity patterns of large trees?

For more than three decades, major efforts in sampling and analyzing tree diversity in South America have focused almost exclusively on trees with stems of at least 10 and 2.5 cm diameter, showing highest species diversity in the wetter western and northern Amazon forests. By contrast, little attention has been paid to patterns and drivers of diversity in the largest canopy and emergent trees, which is surprising given these have dominant ecological functions. Here, we use a machine learning approach to quantify the importance of environmental factors and apply it to generate spatial predictions of the species diversity of all trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm) and for very large trees (dbh ≥ 70 cm) using data from 243 forest plots (108,450 trees and 2832 species) distributed across different forest types and biogeographic regions of the Brazilian Amazon. The diversity of large trees and of all trees was significantly associated with three environmental factors, but in contrasting ways across regions and forest types. Environmental variables associated with disturbances, for example, the lightning flash rate and wind speed, as well as the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation, tend to govern the diversity of large trees. Upland rainforests in the Guiana Shield and Roraima regions had a high diversity of large trees. By contrast, variables associated with resources tend to govern tree diversity in general. Places such as the province of Imeri and the northern portion of the province of Madeira stand out for their high diversity of species in general. Climatic and topographic stability and functional adaptation mechanisms promote ideal conditions for species diversity. Finally, we mapped general patterns of tree species diversity in the Brazilian Amazon, which differ substantially depending on size class

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data