An approach to timber monitoring in the Brazilian Amazon through transport elements

Abstract

Sustainable forest management plans (SFMP) are important tools for the proper use of forest resources in the Brazilian Amazon and reliability in the timber chain of custody is one of the premises to guarantee legal origin. However, in disagreement with technical and legal precepts, certain transport operations may be used to cover up illegal wood exploitation. The objective of this study was to analyse timber transportation to identify possible inconsistencies in the information presented in official control systems in relation to the average time and speed of effective transportation and the load capacity of vehicles in four SFMP sanctioned by the Brazilian federal environmental agency, due to environmental violations committed during forest exploitation. The analysis was based on timber transport documents, 447 forest guides (GFs) and 784 forest origin documents (DOFs). This gave a total of 42 670.1 m³ of logs transported in 71 compositions, including 46 trucks of 6 different brands. About 73% of the GFs and 93% of the DOFs registered a time interval between issuance and receiving of the logs declared in the official control systems greater than the estimated transportation time. In about 97% of the GFs and 65% of the DOFs the registered timber load exceeded the load capacity. The inconsistencies detected in the information presented on forestry transport in official systems may serve to subsidise continuous improvements in forest control, curb unfair competition and guarantee the sustainability of the activity.