In 2010, forestry production was R$ 14.7 billion, 71.8% (R$ 10.7 billions) from the exploitation of planted forests (silviculture) and 28.2% (R$ 4.2 billions) from the exploitation of natural vegetal resources (gathering of wild growing products).

The strict control from environmental agencies over the gathering of products from native forests led to a reduction in this activity, especially concerning logging.

The contribution of logging to forestry activities totaled R$ 3.4 billion, the other activities accounted for R$ 778.2 million. In silviculture, the four logging products totaled R$ 10.5 billion, the three non-wood products accounted for R$ 139.7 million.

The non-wood products that stood out in 2010 in terms of production were: açaí berries (R$ 179.4 million), babaçu nuts (R$ 154.8 million), piaçava fiber (R$ 117.7 million), native yerba mate (R$ 100.5 million), carnaúba powder (R$ 86.2 million) and castanha-do-pará (R$ 55.2 million). Altogether, they accounted for 89% of the total production of non-wood wild growing products.

Compared with 2009, 16 non-wood products rose in production, especially, açaí berries (7,3%), castanha-do-pará (7.7%), yerba mate (4.3%), mangaba (3.3%), pinhão (10.9%) and umbu (3.9%). As for the four wood products, there was a drop in production: charcoal (-8.7%), firewood (-7.9%), logs (-17%) and pine knot fire wood (-11.3%).

Further information is available in the 2010 Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS), which brings quantities, comparisons with 2009 and the production of the main logging products and non-wood products, from the gathering of wild products and silviculture. The complete publication of 2010 Forestry Activities (PEVS) can be accessed at

https://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/economia/pevs/2010/default.shtm

 Gathering of wild growing products: production of 16 non-wood products increases 

Gathering wild growing products is an activity that usually presents fluctuation in the history of production.

The main reasons for that are: industrial demand, price, availability of labor force, control of supervising and environmental agencies (sometimes they liberate some areas, sometimes they are more strict, closing establishments and giving fines) and climate conditions. 

Compared with 2009, 16 non-wood products rose in production, especially the food group that, except for cashew nut and heart of palm, recorded increases: açaí berries (7.3%), castanha-do-pará (7.7%), yerba mate (4.3%), mangaba (3.3%), pinhão (10.9%) and umbu (3.9%). The opposite happened to four wood products: charcoal (-8.7%), firewood (-7.9%), logs (-17%) and pine knot fire wood (-11.3%). 

Similarly to 2009, the non-wood products that were a production highlight in 2010 were açaí berries (R$ 179.4 million), babaçu nuts (R$ 154.8 million), piaçava fiber (R$ 117.7 million), native yerba mate (R$ 100.5 million), carnaúba powder (R$ 86.2 million) and castanha-do-pará (R$ 55.2 million). Altogether, they accounted for 89% of the total production of non-wood wild growing products. Among those products, the only one that is not produced in the states of the North and Northeast is yerba-mate, which is concentrated (99.9%) in the South region. The North region is a highlight contributor to the production of açaí (91%) and castanha-do-pará (96.3%). The productions of babaçu nuts (99.4%), piaçava fiber (96.5%) and carnaúba powder (100%) are concentrated in the Northeast region.

Açaí, castanha-do-pará, yerba-mate and carnaúba powder recorded a rise in production

One of the main export products from Amazônia, castanha–do-pará, had its production increased by 7.7% in 2010 (40,357 tons), keeping the upward trend in the last 3 years. Amazonas is the main producer (16,039 tons), the municipality of Beruri stood out, with 6,600 tons. 

The production of açaí also registered an increase (7.3%) in relation to 2009. Pará is the highest producer, with 85.6% of the national production (106,562 tons out of a total of 124,421 tons), and concentrates 18 of the 20 biggest producing municipalities. The highlight was Limoeiro do Ajuru (PA), responsible for 20,231 tons.

The good productivity in some municipalities of Paraná, due to favorable climate conditions, higher demand and good trade prices, was responsible for the increase of 4.3% in the national production of the native yerba-mate in 2010, which reached 227,462 tons. Paraná recorded 166,682 tons, the municipality of São Mateus do Sul stood out with 32,940 tons. 

The increase of 2.7% in the production of carnaúba powder in 2010 was mainly attributable to the industrial demand aimed at supplying the external market with carnaúba wax, one of the main export products of Piauí. Out of the total production of 18,802 tons, Piauí contributed with 12,982 tons, the municipality of Campo Maior stood out with 1,507 tons. 

The national production of babaçu nuts registered a drop of 2.9% compared with 2009. That fact was attributable to the lack of buyers in some municipalities, the prohibition of nut gathering by land owners and the abandonment of the activity by the low-income population, responsible for gathering the product. The national production stayed at 106,055 tons, 54.6% was concentrated in Maranhão. The main producing municipality was Vargem Grande (MA), with 5,921 tons. 

The lower demand for piaçava fibers resulted in a drop of 11.1% in the national production in 2010 (63,776 tons), compared with 2009. Bahia (61,538 tons) was the main producing state. The highlight was the municipality of Ilhéus, with 21,100 tons.

Strict control leads to a drop of 17% in the production of wood logs

There was a reduction in the quantity of four wood products in 2010: charcoal (-8.7%), firewood (-7.9%), logs (-17%) and pine knot fire wood (-11.3%). 

The production of charcoal totaled 1,502,997 tons. Maranhão was the main producer, with 335,982 tons. The main producer in Maranhão was Barra do Corda (64,029 tons). 

The highest relative contribution to the activity of gathering wild products came from firewood. The product contributed with 38,207,117 m³, accounting for 43.8% of the national production of 87,265,349 m³. Gathering of firewood is affected by the control of supervising agencies and by the fact that it has been substituted for the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in some states. The biggest producer is Bahia, responsible for 9,263,509 m³ (24%).

Wood logs, under intensive supervision, registered the greatest fall in production in 2010 (17%). Out of the registered 12,658,209 m³, Pará, main producer, contributed with 5,763,823 m³. The state included 13 of the 20 major producing municipalities, especially Baião, with 628,347 m³.

Silviculture accounted for 90.1% of the production of wood logs and 69.6% of charcoal

Considering the three non-wood products originating from planted forests, the production of eucalyptus leaf, used in the preparation of essential oils (eucalyptol), registered the highest increase (51%) in relation to 2009, due to the gathering of this product in new municipalities, driven by better prices. The national production reached 96,907 tons. Paraná, the main producer, contributed with 42,540 tons. The main producing municipality was São João do Paraíso (MG), with 32,190 tons. 

The production of resin reached 71,073 tons, an increase in production of 24.9% in relation to 2009, mainly due to the enlargement of the exploitation areas in some municipalities. The main producing municipality is Paranapanema with 8,377 tons, which, in turn, is in the main producing state, São Paulo (36,555 tons). 

The bark of black wattle was the only silviculture product to present a drop (3.1%) in production in the last years, due to the low price of the product. It is gathered in one state only, Rio Grande do Sul, with a production of 107,171 tons. Its highest production in 2010 was recorded in the municipality of Gramado (13,270 tons). 

Of the total wood production of Brazil, which was 128,399,740 m³ of logs in 2010, 90.1% originated from the silviculture. Out of the total logs produced by silviculture, 60.3% was destined to paper and pulp and 39.7% to other purposes. As for the national production of charcoal (4.951.207 tons), 69.6% were produced by silviculture.