Forest plantations for the protection of wild animals - Dec 15, 2008 - 1:37:00 PM

Managed forest plantations with economic goals play a fundamental role in the preservation of the environment, as they supply society with goods such as furniture, paper, doors, plywood and packaging and, as a result, prevent native trees from being felled for such purposes. In recent years, another ecological role has been emerging in the forestry sector: conservation of the natural habitats of a variety of wild animal species, primarily in areas preserved by corporations.
The country¿s prevailing environmental legislation requires that at least 20% of a forest property is preserved with native woodland, these being known as Legal Reserves. The Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) ¿ consisting of areas close to streams, rivers, springs, grassy marshes or on steep slopes ¿ should also be protected and may raise a property¿s natural areas to in excess of 50%. Accordingly, in Brazil, adding together only those areas occupied by companies, there are more than 1.42 million hectares of native forests dedicated to environmental preservation, according to the Brazilian Association of Forest Plantation Producers (ABRAF). These forests are attracting increasing attention from research entities and environmentalists, and the results of this high conservation potential are beginning to show.
One such example is the study carried out by Rigesa in partnership with the SPVS ¿ Society for Wildlife Research and Environmental Education, an NGO based in Curitiba (Paraná), which has been in progress for over two years in the region of São João do Triunfo (Paraná). SPVS technicians and researchers conduct periodic fieldwork, observing the presence of wild animals in the region. These studies have showed that there are significant species of Brazilian fauna being protected within Rigesa¿s preserved woodlands. At the present time, the company owns around 24,000 hectares (equivalent to over 24,000 soccer pitches) in preservation areas, spread over 17 municipalities in the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná.
One of the most representative species found by researchers is the jaguatirica, or ocelot. Its presence suggests that the areas are maintained in an excellent state of conservation. Other species which show signs of their presence, and which are also threatened with extinction in Brazil, include the otter and the anteater. The presence was also recorded of parrots, jacutingas (black-fronted piping guan), capybara, deer, monkeys, frogs, jabutis (land turtles) and chipmunks.
So far, more than 120 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have been observed. ¿The areas preserved by Rigesa offer the potential for preserving wild animals in the Atlantic Forest which, lest we should forget, is the biome that possesses the largest number of species threatened with extinction in the whole country¿, stated Pablo Hoffmann, SPVS project coordinator. ¿The work of observation is ongoing and we hope to identify more than 250 species in the region¿.
Moreover, Rigesa adopts a mosaic format for managing its forests, that is in order to create ecological corridors. These are areas of native vegetation intermingled with forest plantations at various stages of development. This makes possible the maintenance of suitable habitats for the preservation of fauna, since these corridors allow the animals to move over large areas, which is important for the survival of several species. ¿Rigesa believes it is important to combine production activities with environmental preservation, since in this way it is possible to join forces in the construction of a sustainable society that respects the continuity of the human species on this planet¿, stressed Marco Brito, environment coordinator for Rigesa¿s Forestry Division.