The dichotomy between protection and logging of an endangered and valuable timber species conservation of Amburana cearensis in northwestern Argentina

POLITI NATALIA; RIVERA LUIS OSVALDO; LIZARRAGA LEONIDAS; HUNTER MALCOLM JR.; DE FOSSÉ GUILLERMO

ORYX

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2015 vol. 49 p. 111 - 117

0030-6053

Amburana cearensisis a commercially valuable timber species, categorized as endangered on the IUCN red list, and distributed throughout the seasonal dry tropical forests of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, and Argentina. In Argentina, A. cearensisis restricted to the provinces of Salta ?where legislation sets a minimum cutting diameter of > 60 cm, and Jujuy ?where logging is banned since 1972. To date,  there has been no effort to determine the effect of the either legislation on species? conservation status.. In this study, we estimated species density using distance sampling methodology at 13 sites, and measured DBH of each individual encountered. Across both provinces, we found a density of 1.12 individuals ha -1 and the density in Salta (i.e., 5.15 [95% Confidence Interval: 3.14; 8.45]) did not significantly differ from that in Jujuy (3.67 [95% CI: 2.59; 5.17]), although most individuals (84%) encountered in Salta were found in one site. DBH was significantly lower in Salta than in Jujuy (23±12 vs. 41±18 cm; p<0.05). Differences between the provinces might be attributed to the application of different legislation. Based on ourresults, it seems prudent to halt logging of this species in Salta, until further information is gathered and a sustainable management plan developed