FIREWOOD LOGGING DIAGNOSIS IN SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF CAATINGA IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE, BRAZIL
Renewable energy; Wood; Northeast Region of Brazil.
This study aimed to diagnose the exploitation of firewood in areas with Plan for Sustainable Forest Management (PMFS) at Caatinga of Rio Grande do Norte. Data collection was performed through interviews with owners areas with PMFS and application questionnaire. The sample comprised 30 PMFS. About 63.3% of PMS have an area up to 750 ha, productivity ranging between 83 and 263 st/ha. Most (70%) have up to three years of exploration activity and the main exploited product was firewood for direct consumption. The firewood cut was outsourced in 83.3% of the areas and held by owners at the too. Much of the owners (43.3%) found it difficult to hire skilled personnel for cutting, which was done with chainsaws in 66.7% of the properties and ax and sickle in 13.3%. In 30% of the areas were illegal exploitation of firewood before PMFS and 63.3% of the properties the legal reserve was demarcated during the preparation of PMFS, demonstrating that the activity contributes to forest conservation. For 87.7% of the owners interviewed sustainable forest management is economically interesting. Regarding the main difficulties encountered, 80% of the owners cited the lack of supervision of the exploitation and illegal firewood trade and the others the delay of the authorization by the environmental agency for the start of exploration activities. The high percentage of satisfaction is due income generation through the activity. However, dissatisfaction is directly related to the difficulties encountered.