Search

Studies on the quantification of forest biomass in Caatinga are important due to the scarcity of information related to the theme in the biome and in particular in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass stock and their distribution in the components of the aerial part of forest species with higher population density and the potential to use the biomass expansion factor (FEB) to obtain estimates of aerial biomass in the area of Caatinga, located in Contendas do Sincorá National Forest, BA. The biomass was quantified by destructive method. Representative trees of the nine species with the highest population density were selected felled, and distributed in three diametric classes. The average amount of total biomass and carbon per tree, considering all the species sampled, were estimated at 50.7 kg tree-1 and 25.3 kg tree-1. Jatropha mollíssima is dissimilar in relation to the biomass allocation (branches > stem > leaves) in relation to the other species (stem > branches > leaves). The highest values of individual biomass were verified in the species Commiphora leptophloeos (171 kg tree-1), Coccoloba oblonga (76 kg tree-1) and Pseudobombax simplicifolium (40 kg tree-1). The mean FEB obtained for all species (1.74) provided estimated values close to the real ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a forest growth dynamics study in Acre State, Brazilian southwestern Amazon, where a 20 ha area was logged in 1992. The study was based permanent sample plots (1 ha) established in the logged area and in an unlogged forest immediately after logging operations finished. Forest dynamics parameters were assessed in terms of aboveground dried biomass (AGB). During the study period, three extreme climate events triggered a high impact on both logged and unlogged areas, producing AGB losses greater than those estimated for logging. Twenty years after logging, ingrowth and mortality rates were similar to those expected in an undisturbed forest, and AGB recovery was significantly faster in the logged areas. Forest management, when properly applied, can promote faster forest AGB recovery. We suggest that forest management could be considered as an alternative to adapt to extreme climate events, by promoting controlled disturbances, which should minimize tree mortality and biomass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]