Primary products from forestry amounted to R$ 14.7 billion in 2010, R$ 1.1 billion more than in 2009. The data is part of the Research on Production from Vegetation Extraction and Forestry ("PEVS") 2010, released today (December 9) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). A total of 38 products sourced from vegetation extraction were analyzed (exploitation of native plant resources such as wood, rubber, fruits and roots) together with seven managed forestry products (managed recycling forests aimed at producing wood, resin, charcoal, environmental protection, etc.).

Managed forestry accounted for a 71.8% (R$ 10.7 billion) participation in the value generated by forest production 2010, while extraction had a 28.2% (R$ 4.2 billion) participation. In 2009 some 66.3% (R$ 9 billion) of forest production value came from managed forests and 33.7% (R$ 4.6 billion) from extraction.

The study suggests that the greater participation of managed forestry production and the fall in extraction are the result of the solid performance of environmental and enforcement agencies and the demand for managed forest products, which does not cease to grow.

Timber products from extraction yielded R$ 3.4 billion (81.5% share), and non-timber R$ 778.2 million (18.5%). On the other hand, of the extracted timber products, four of the five that were studied showed a fall in production: charcoal (-8.7%), firewood (-7.9%), timber in logs (-17%) and pine stumps (-11.3%).

Of the seven products originating from managed forestry, six had an increase in their production, with the exception being black acacia bark (-3%) due to the low price of the product. In managed forestry, four timber products totaled R$ 10.5 billion in value (98.7% participation) and the three non-timber products totaled R$ 139.7 million (1.3%). Of the non-timber products, the production of eucalyptus leaves, used in the manufacture of essential oils (eucalyptol), which is concentrated in the Southeast and South of Brazil, had the greatest increase compared with 2009 (51.2%), driven by favorable market prices.

According to the survey about 90% of timber logs originated from managed forestry in 2010, and 9.9% of from extraction. A total of 60.3% of the wood from managed forests went to the pulp and paper industry. The share of extraction has greater significance in the production of firewood, with 43.8% of national production.

Of almost 5,000 tons of charcoal produced, 69.6% were from planted forests and 30.4% of from extraction. Charcoal from managed forests increased by 1.6% in 2010 compared to 2009.

According to the IBGE the most common non-timber products from extraction in 2010 were the same as those in 2009: açaí palm (R$ 179 million), babassu nuts (R$ 154.8 million); piassava fibers (R$ 117.7 million); native yerba mate (R$ 100.5 million), carnauba powder (R$ 86.2 million) and Brazil nuts (R$ 55.2 million). Together, they accounted for 89% of all non-timber extraction.

Compared with 2009, production of 16 extracted non-timber products increased in 2010, in particular açaí fruit (7.3%), Brazil nuts (7.7%), yerba mate (4.3% ) and pine nuts (10.9%).

The study also showed that compared to 2009 the extraction of piassava fibers fell 11.1%, due to lower demand, together with babassu nuts (-2.9%), which in addition to lower demand was also in function of the low-income population which used to extract the product abandoning the activity for other means of income. Native yerba mate increased 4.3% in 2010 compare to the previous year, mainly due to higher demand and a good market price.

09 December 2011