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An Attempt to Predict Which Amazonian Tree Species May be Threatened by Logging Activities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Adriana M. Z. Martini ,
Nelson de A. Rosa  and
Christopher Uhl
Adriana M. Z. Martini
Affiliation:
Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (IMAZON), Caixa Postal 1015, Belém, 66.000 Pará, Brazil
Nelson de A. Rosa
Affiliation:
Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG), Estrada Perimetral, Belém, Pará, Brazil
Christopher Uhl
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA, and Technical Advisor, Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (IMAZON), Caixa Postal 1015, Belém, 66.000 Pará, Brazil
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Extract

The impacts of logging on Amazonian ecosystems has been the focus of considerable attention both within and outside of Amazonia. However, the impacts of logging on individual timber species has not been at all adequately investigated. Logging affects timber species by: (1) removing mature individuals that are important sources of seeds; (2) damaging seedlings and saplings (i.e future generations of canopy adults); and (3) creating conditions that favour fire by opening the canopy and leaving slash as fuel on the forest floor.

In this study we summarize information on the ecological characteristics of 305 timber species in Brazilian Amazonia. We identify seven ecological parameters that are useful in evaluating a species' ability to resist the negative impacts of logging. These characteristics are: (1) effective long-distance dispersal ability; (2) abundance of saplings in forest regeneration; (3) rapid growth; (4) ability to resprout; (5) capacity to withstand fire; (6) broad geographic distribution; and (7) high density of adults. We hypothesize thai species with characteristics opposed to these parameters and subjected to intense logging pressure will have difficulty in maintaining their populations in logging regions.

We use a simple scoring system to rank species with regard to their hypothesized ability to withstand logging impacts. Among the species that are potentially susceptible to logging impacts are Euxylophora paraensis (‘Pau Amarelo’) and Swietenia macrophylla (American Mahogany). The sawn lumber from these two species goes principally to European and North American buyers, revealing a direct link between First World consumption and possible biodiversity impoverishment in the Brazilian rain-forest. These two species, and others that might experience population reductions as a result of logging, merit special study.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , Summer 1994 , pp. 152 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1994

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