Publicação on-line; 33 ref.; 2 tables; 2 illus.; Summary (En)

ABSTRACT

Sustainable management of tropical and subtropical secondary forests for multiple purposes,
including timber, may encourage farmers to promote regeneration of native forest. We studied
the population structures and commercial timber production in two adjacent 33 years-old
Brazilian Atlantic Forest stands: a 26 ha forest managed through enrichment with three
fast‑growing commercial timber species, and a 10 ha naturally regenerated unmanaged forest.
The tree species presented basal area of 26.9 m2ha–1 and 23.8 m2ha–1 in the enriched and the
unmanaged forest, respectively. Timber volume (DBH ≥ 15 cm) in the enriched forest was
104 m3ha–1 (3.7 m3 ha–1 year–1 rate of increment), 67% of which from the species planted in the
enrichment process. The unmanaged forest presented 78.4 m3 ha–1 of timber (2.4 m3
ha–1 year–1rate of increment) (45% from the planted species). Timber volumes and DBH distributions of both
stands suggest that selective harvesting could produce valuable timber now, while stimulating
growth of the next cycle.

Keywords: swidden fallows, smallholder forestry, uneven-aged stands, second growth forests, fast-growing species.