The National Forest Development Plan prepared by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Florestas) aims at a 20% increase in the area of planted forest to achieve a national target of 20 million hectares of commercial forests by 2030.
Currently, according to the Brazilian Tree Industry (IBA), the planted forest area is 7.8 million hectares of mainly eucalyptus, pine and acacia. The area with planted forests occupies only 1% of the national territory but accounts for 91% of all wood produced for industrial purposes. The planted forest productivity averages of 35.7 cu.m/ha./year.
New measures from the Brazilian Forest Service and the National Plan for Development of Planted Forests (known as PlantarFlorestas) were discussed at a recent meeting of the Production Chain of Planted Forests at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA).
One issue raised was the need to preserve and protect natural vegetation in some 5.6 million hectares of natural forests under private ownership.
2018 a record year for the planted forest sector
2018 was a record year for the planted forest sector in Brazil and the trade balance advanced 28% due to an increase in exports of pulp, woodbased panels and paper.
The sector exported US$10.7 billion, an increase of 26% compared to 2017. There was a rise in exports of pulp (32%), wood panels (7%) and paper (8%).
The main buyer of Brazilian pulp in 2018 was China which imported US$3.5 billion, up 38% year on year. Paper sector exports to mainly Latin American expanded 13% year on year in 2018. Woodbased panel exports rose 4% in 2018, with some 1.3 million cubic metres being exported.
The main market for woodbased panels in 2018 was Europe which saw a rise of 160% year on year. However exports to markets in Asia and Oceania declined in 2018. Sales in the Brazilian domestic market expanded around 3% in 2018 compared to 2017.
