Log and sawn lumber volume relationships for calycophyllum spruceanum: a naturally regenerating timber resource from Amazonian tidal floodplain forest Amapa-Brazil

Abstract

In the state of Amapá, Brazil, Calycophyllum spruceanum, a timber species native to the tidal floodplains of the region, has become an increasingly important source of construction wood for nearby urban markets. C. spruceanum exhibits prolific regeneration in agricultural fallows, and some rural inhabitants manage such sites for its production. Using simple linear regression, we develop log and sawn lumber volume relationships for this species. Standard timber volume estimations using DBH and commercial height results in an adequate predictive model for measured commercial stem volume (R > 0.90). Similarly, at the small sawmill we investigated, individual log volume was a good predictor of sawn lumber volume (R =0.90), with nearly half of the log volume converted to merchantable timber. The distribution of merchantable volume among standard board types varied between sawmills. We suggest that regional forestry practices would benefit from an applied research program aimed at quantifying the potential for increased production and more efficient processing of this and other native timbers.