Abstract
Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) is an endangered Amazonian tree species which produces one of the most valuable essential oils in the world. The species is used in silvicultural systems which are seen as a means to reducing the pressure of exploitation of natural rosewood populations. There are no specific equations for rosewood plantations, and therefore generalized equations are inappropriate for the species in commercial systems. This study presents allometric equations from 144 trees sampled in different rosewood plantations of Central Amazonia. The equations generated were compared with an equation used in forest management to estimate wood volume and another one recommended by law for rosewood biomass. The equation suggested by current legislation underestimates the actual values by more than 70% making the viable use of this equation impossible in commercial plantations. The equations generated to estimate the volume and biomass serve as an alternative to the need to develop specific equations for each area and age of the plant. The generic equation for the species is consistent for fresh mass management, with a generalized R2 of 0.80 and an underestimation of 0.33%. The equation for crown fresh mass estimation presented a generalized R2 of 0.32 and an underestimation of 0.24%. The underestimation of the mass production by rosewood plantations represents a serious impediment to this forest activity. The allometric equations developed are highly applicable under different conditions and management options and should be suggested by the legal provisions regulating rosewood-related activity in Central Amazonia.
Highlights
Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, Lauraceae) is an Amazonian tree species that produces an essential oil, in high demand by the world's fine perfumery industry [1,2]
As a very large number of equations was generated the values of the coefficients, significance of the coefficients, residues, R2, and AIC of all the models used to estimate of volume, dry mass, and fresh mass of each class are presented in the Tables A2–A4
Model 3 was chosen to estimate the total volume of rosewood trees in commercial plantations, with significant coefficients, higher values of adjusted R2 and lower AIC and RSE%, values, with emphasis on the separation by areas and age, which gave the best results (Table A2)
Summary
Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, Lauraceae) is an Amazonian tree species that produces an essential oil, in high demand by the world's fine perfumery industry [1,2]. In Brazil, this species is under full protection [6] and current legislation allows for the exploitation of the species only in established plantations. These plantations reduce the pressure on natural populations, generating jobs, income, and promoting development in rural areas. Biomass quantification is necessary to evaluate biological, economic, and nutrient productivity [9,10]. The most accurate method for determining biomass is to destructively remove the plant and weigh it. This, especially in the case of trees, is time-consuming, costly, Forests 2017, 8, 327; doi:10.3390/f8090327 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests
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