Article: Forestry activity and the market

Forestry activity provides rural producers with the possibility of multiple use of the property, with the diversification of agricultural activities and forestry plantations, creating opportunities for additional income.

The foreign market is the main destination for products of Brazilian forestry origin. In 2008 and 2009, due to the effects of the global financial crisis and the appreciation of the Real against the Dollar, there was a reduction in the volume of sales abroad and, consequently, the price of wood from forests planted in Brazil also fell. However, the activity continued with positive economic results, remaining economically attractive and superior to agricultural commodities.

Currently, despite being at lower levels than in 2008, according to CEPEA - Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics - Esalq/Usp, in 2010 and, at the beginning of 2011, the semi-processed and raw wood market natura, in the State of São Paulo, showed positive but different variations, depending on the region, as the distances are different between the timber centers and the sources of raw material in each region, therefore presenting different prices for wood.

Regarding the productive performance of eucalyptus forests, the distribution of raw material destined for different industrial segments varies according to the age of the population, and is influenced by the soil and climate conditions of each region, reaching values ​​ranging from 30 to 45 m³/ha/ year.

In an area of ​​1 ha, planted with 1.666 trees, 120 to 160 m3/ha are produced in the first thinning, between the 6th and 8th year of age, reducing, on average, 40% in the number of plants. In the second thinning, at approximately 12 years of age, approximately 30% of the remaining trees are removed, which can produce a volume of 280 to 350 m3 of wood. At the end of the cycle, between the 16th and 20th year, a volume of 390 to 460 m3 of wood is obtained.

Forestry activity could be an alternative to improve the producer's economic gains and, according to SILVA & SOUZA (1994), it could also bring ecological benefits, such as: improving air quality, thermal comfort, reducing noise pollution levels, reducing intensity of erosion, improvement in the flow of water sources, recovery of degraded areas, reduction of pressure on native forests and increase in biodiversity.

Whenever one chooses to implement a forestry component in an agricultural establishment, it must be based on the adoption of careful planning based on the collection of technical and economic information.

Like any productive enterprise, forestry activity presents a series of production costs such as: soil preparation, acquisition of seedlings, inputs, planting, fertilization, control of ants and competing herbs, which interfere with economic returns.

It is always difficult to define the type of forest product that will be best valued over a period of 6 or 20 years. The financial returns, despite being, in most cases, more advantageous, occur over a longer period of time than those arising from annual agricultural crops, with which farmers are accustomed.

Therefore, it is recommended to observe the current and future market situation in the vicinity of the plantation, as well as the existence of industries that consume wood or other by-products in the region. In times of high competitiveness, it is not enough to have good merchandise, it is important to have the right product and get it to its destination at a competitive price.