Program of Native Species Silviculture

The silviculture of native species has been a part of the activities of the Institute of Forestry Research and Studies (IPEF) for many years. In the 1980s, an agreement was entered into by and between CESP (São Paulo Energy Company) and IPEF, for research on forest restoration, aimed at restoring the margins of large reservoirs of CESP and its tributaries. This agreement has generated very important data and is considered a historical reference with regard to the ecology and restoration of forests in Brazil.

In 1991, with the creation of a thematic program – PCNAT (1991-1999), there was already an interest in promoting scientific and technological development on silviculture of native species and on management of natural areas. The activities and goals of the program anticipated quite current issues such as native species silviculture, restoration and management of natural ecosystems, landscape planning, and forest and environmental management systems certifications. That is, various demands were noted, but were not considered as priorities by the sector.

In the first semester of 2009, on the occasion of a workshop for planning IPEF’s activities for the decade 2010-2020, there was a demand by the board of directors of the institute to consult companies on the need for research and development activities focused on this area.

Companies in the sector were consulted through a questionnaire on the activities developed and their needs, with regard to forest restoration (with a focus on areas of permanent preservation and legal reserve) and native species silviculture for economic purposes. From companies’ response and from the discussions carried out at a workshop held in May 2009, the topics suggested for research and development of native species silviculture referred to four major groups: (I) restoration technology, (II) legal issues and policies, (III) relationship with public bodies and inspection, (IV) activities in cooperation.
In November 2009 it was proposed the launch of this new IPEF’s cooperative program entitled Native Species Silviculture Cooperative Program, which was approved by the Deliberative Body and had its activities started in April 2010.

Experimental Network

The Program of Native Species Silviculture (PCSN), through associated companies and partner institutions, is present in three Brazilian biomes, as shown in the figure below.

Presence of PCSN in different Brazilian biomes.

Objectives

The PCSN aims to achieve the interaction among all companies and institutions, facilitating the exchange, consolidation and systematization of the existing information, rationalizing research efforts and seeking greater integration between the companies and the society. It also aims to provide technical and scientific information for the different sectors and participate in a structured way in the discussions for the legal improvement.

To achieve these objectives, the PCSN operates in the following lines of research:

Lines of Research
Theme A – Forest recovery and/or restoration of the degraded areas (areas of permanent preservation and legal reserves)
Theme B – Native species silviculture with economic objective (production and generation of income from wood and non-wood forest products.

Lines of Development
Theme C – Training and Communication Program
Theme D – Legal Issues and Public Policies

Institutional Partnerships

Closing the year 2010, the PCSN was fortunate to be a partner in developing the project “Construction of best practices of good management for extraction of babassu by coconut breakers, Piauí,” approved by Announcement MDA/SAF/CNPq – no. 58/2010.

The project, coordinated by Dr. Mariana Carvalhaes (EMBRAPA Meio Norte), will start from 2011 and includes the development of technical and scientific activities, in ecological dimension, to subside the sustainability of the extraction of babassu palm, through the development and participatory validation of best management practices with the coconut breakers in areas in the state of Piauí.

Latest Publications

Carvalhaes, M.A.; Oliveira, R.E.; Santos, J.D. “Forest management as a tool for landscape restoration in the Atlantic Forest”. In: IUFRO Landscape Ecology International Conference - “Forest Landscapes and Global Change”. Data: 21 a 27 de setembro de 2010. Local: Bragança, Portugal.

Team

Scientific Coordination
Dr. Flávio Bertin Gandara Mendes- ESALQ – USP.
Dra. Giselda Durigan – Instituto Florestal;
Dr. Paulo Valladares Soares – Projeto Corredor Ecológico;
Dra.Silvia Ziller – Instituto Horus;
Dra.Vera Lex Engel – FCA-UNESP.

Technical Coordination
Dra Maria Jose Brito Zakia

Associate Researcher
MSc. Biol. Michele Dechoum – Instituto Hórus

Interns
Renata Martins Plucênio (UFSC)
Felipe Furtado Frugieri (Esalq/USP)

Participating Companies and Institutions
ArcelorMittal BioEnergia Ltda.
Consórcio Paulista de Papel e Celulose
Copener Florestal Ltda.
Fibria Celulose S/A
Klabin S/A
Lwarcel Celulose Ltda.
Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A.
Veracel Celulose S.A.
Instituto Hórus