Sensory characteristics of wood from naturally fallen Amazonian trees for manufacture of products in Extractive Reserves

Abstract

In view of the national and international demand for wood for industrial use, solutions are being created to combat and reduce deforestation. One such solution is to use wood from naturally fallen trees. However, there has been limited evaluation of the technological potential of this material. This study therefore aimed to assess the general characteristics of wood from naturally fallen tree species in the Auatí-Paraná Extractive Reserve (RESEX), for potential use in product development. The characteristics analyzed were color, texture, grain, heartwood, sapwood and density. The species of naturally fallen trees were assessed using online databases, specialized literature and the xylotheque at the Wood Anatomy and Identification Laboratory of the National Institute of Amazonian Research (LAIM/INPA). This study and its results confirm the great quantity and quality of wood from naturally fallen trees with technological potential for the development of products, based on the classification of the sensory characteristics of the woods.