REFLORESTATION

The consumers , each day more concerned with the environment, are opting to buy forest products bearing the “Green Seal”, issued by certification institutions such as the FSC — Forest Stewardship Council. The projects of sustained handling and utilization of natural forests have very high costs, are of low productivity and do not satisfy the global demand. The pressures against the commercial felling of native trees are very great. There is a growing worldwide search for timber originated from reforestation.

Reforestation shows to be the most efficient form of forest utilization, attending the cultural, legal, environmental, social and economic requirements.
It implies in the adoption of adequate environmental practices, in consonance with the exigencies of today´s consumer market.

Reforestation contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of the region where it is implanted, promoting an extraordinary increase in forestry products, new workplaces and a better distribution of revenues.

Further to the high profits, it generates enormous environmental benefices, such as the betterment of air quality (carbon sequestering), control of the erosive effect of winds, protection and regularization of the waterways, maintenance of wild life, protection of aquatic ecosystems and enhancement of the scenic value of landscapes.

The total area of tropical reforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean is of 6,6 million hectares, being 5,4 million for industrial use (ITTO, 1997).

In Brazil, in spite of a 47% decrease of the reforested areas registered during the period 90/95 as a consequence of the end of fiscal incentives for the production of vegetal coal and paper, the worldwide environmental question and the aptness of the country (biotic and abiotic) for the silviculture, point to a reheating of the sector.

A considerable increase of the areas planted with exotic woods with a high degree of aggregated value can already be observed; In Mato Grosso, for example, Teak (Tectona grandis), one of the specimens with the highest value within the global market, has been planted with great interest.

AREAS REFORESTED WITH TEAK AROUND THE WORLD, 1997.
(1.000 hectares)