ORNL/TM-12846

SHORT-ROTATION EUCALYPT PLANTATIONS IN BRAZIL: SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Dr. Laércio Couto[1] and Dr. David R. Betters[2]

[1]Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa 36570.000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
[2]Department of Forest Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523

Date Published: February 1995

Prepared under purchase order 19XSM 842V for Biofuels Feedstock Development Program, Environmental Sciences Division

Published by OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6352
managed by MARTIN MARIETTA ENERGY SYSTEMS INC.
for the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY under contract DE-AC05-84OR21400

CONTENTS

ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS
SUMMARY
1. INTRODUCTION
2. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
2.1 CLIMATE
2.2 WATER
2.2.1 Canopy Interception
2.2.2 Runoff
2.2.3 Uptake
2.3 SOIL
2.3.1 Litter Effects
2.3.2 Reclamation
2.3.3 Protection
2.4 BIODIVERSITY
2.4.1 Fauna
2.4.2 Flora
3. SOCIAL ISSUES
4. POLICY AND LEGISLATION
5. FOREST EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
6. LESSONS LEARNED
6.1 FISCAL INCENTIVES
6.2 LAND ACQUISITION
6.3 TREE SPECIES AND PROVENANCES
6.4 PESTS AND DISEASES
6.5 SITE PREPARATION
6.6 TENDING AND CULTIVATION
6.7 ROAD CONSTRUCTION
6.8 COPPICING AND RENEWAL
6.9 SPACING
6.10 INTERACTION WITH COMMUNITIES
7. NEW TRENDS
7.1 AGROFORESTRY
7.2 WOOD BIOMASS GASIFICATION
7.3 FOREST PRODUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
7.4 A MEGA AFFORESTATION PROJECT
8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
9. REFERENCES

SUMMARY

This report presents an overview of the historical and current legislative, social, and environmental aspects of the establishment of large-scale eucalypt plantations in Brazil. The report consolidates the vast experience and knowledge relating to these forest plantation systems and highlights lessons learned and new trends. The overview should prove useful to those interested in comparing or beginning similar endeavors.