Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This paper aims to address the export incentive mechanisms through a case study exploring the advantages of the Integrated Drawback system, in a wood flooring company. A study was conducted indicating the inputs entered into the Integrated Drawback system in Suspension mode for the laminate flooring production process. The procedures required to acquire inputs using Drawback were described and the taxes that will be suspended were described. This is an efficient public policy instrument to export incentive. The Drawback regime can be applied by any exporting company, provided that the acquired inputs are used in the manufacturing process. In addition, it shows that tax reform is important measure to increase Brazilian competitiveness in different sectors, including the wood sector.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate Pseudobombax aff. petropolitanum (PP) contribution on annual fine litterfall, carbon content, and nutrient concentration, compared to other woody species (OS) on a neotropical inselberg in Espírito Santo state, Brazil. Annual fine litterfall was systematic monthly collected (November 2011-October 2012) by means of 15 littertraps (0.25 m2) placed in five transects, oven-dried (65 °C, 72 h), weighed, and C content and nutrients concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were estimated. PP performed lower litterfall, C content, and nutrient concentration excepting higher K concentration, compared to OS. The results suggested that PP performed higher nutrient conservation, which indicated its potential in restoring degraded areas observed in the inselberg.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Iron ore pellets are raw materials used by the iron and steel industries. In these applications, flotation process has been used for increasing the iron content. In this process, starch is normally used as a depressant and amine as a collector. The main objective of this study was to compare the starch with different alternatives of biopolymers. Such depressant was developed in the US Patent granted at number 9,421,556 named XMC. The best XMC produced in this work (XMC SB) shown iron content at tails fraction (RJ) and at concentrate fraction (CO) of 39.4% and 67.2%, respectively while starch shows 36.5% and 67.3%, respectively, at the same SiO2 level. Additionally, mass recovery was 63.3% and 65.0%, respectively for XMC SB and starch, and metallic recovery were 75.2% and 79.0%, respectively for XMC SB and starch. Therefore, the major advantage of XMC as iron ore depressant will be regard its sustainability.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract To characterize the floristic composition and horizontal structure of the National Forest of Açú from 2015 to 2019, 20 permanent plots of 400 m² were allocated, and all woody individuals with a diameter at breast height (CBH) ≥ 2 cm were measured on both occasions. Between 2015 and 2019, there was an increase in floristic richness from 23 to 34 species, especially Cenostigma pyramidale and Handroanthus impetiginosus due to their high phytosociological values. Although an 8.7% reduction in the number of individuals in the 4.4 cm class center was observed between the respective years, there was a volumetric increase of 4.85 m³ ha-1, that is 1.21 m³ ha-1 year-1. Changes in floristic composition, diameter distribution, and volumetry reflect the development of vegetation and part of its dynamics; indicating its state of conservation and, consequently, the achievement of the conservation objectives proposed by the Unit.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The highly biodiverse Atlantic Forest has been heavily exploited and its remnant areas, which are mostly composed of secondary forests, cover less than 20% of its original extension. This study analyzed the structure, aboveground biomass (AGB) and species diversity of a secondary evergreen rainforest in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Individuals with diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm on 22 sample plots were measured, totalizing 3.49 hectares of sampled area. A mean AGB of 201.6 Mg ha-1 (standard deviation = 35.5) was found; Hyeronima alchorneoides and Miconia cinnamomifolia represented 29.1% and 7.6% of the community AGB ha-1, respectively. A total of 153 species distributed in 107 genera and 55 families was observed; it was estimated that 121 species (95% confidence interval: [117, 125]) occurred in one hectare. These results highlight the importance of secondary forests for biodiversity restoration/conservation and carbon sequestration.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Permanent preservation areas reduce the exposure of sediments and nutrients in aquatic medium and improve the quality of water. The analysis of natural features and anthropic use in rivers’ surroundings makes it possible detecting potential ecological unbalance. This study analyzed the potential and emerging environmental fragility in Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA). Environmental fragilities around drainage areas composing the sub-basin were assessed based on soil, relief, rainfall, land use/land cover (LULC) features. The degrees of emerging environmental fragility observed in the second-order stream were lower than those in first-order ones: 3.07 and 2.68, on average, respectively; and standard deviation of approximately 0.7 was recorded in each group. First-order streams are more closely associated with high slopes, and it increases their fragility. Then reduction of fragility levels around water springs due to conservationist practices will decrease material and energy transfer throughout network connections and rebalance the assessed aquatic ecosystem.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The practice of shifting cultivation has led to forest degradation and deforestation in the Sisimeni Sanam Forest Area, with Special Purpose (SSFAwSP). Therefore, this study aims to assess land cover and carbon storage changes of the practiced shifting cultivation in SSFAwSP over the last ten years using 2013, 2016, and 2021 Landsat imagery. A hybrid classification approach that combines the forest canopy density model and supervised classification of maximum likelihood was used to create land cover maps to detect changes in forest land cover and carbon storage. The results showed that for ten years, the extent and annual rates of deforestation, forest degradation, forest regrowth, and changes in carbon storage were 662.62 ha (4%), 319.18 ha (3%), 163.8 ha (1%), and -54.51 kilo Ton C (3%), respectively. This finding indicated that shifting cultivation contributed only 10% and 1% of total deforestation and forest degradation, respectively.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Studies on floristic composition are important to evaluate the effectiveness of forest restoration and to support conservation of tropical forests. Presence of planted exotic species and low species richness in several riparian forests in Brazil led us to analyze the floristic composition of restored riparian areas in a region with one of the highest levels of vegetation cover in the Atlantic Forest and immersed in one of the largest centers of endemism in this hotspot. Restored areas were identified through consultation of licensing processes at the environmental agencies and field visits were carried out in these areas to identify planted species. Most restorations involved the planting of exotic species, low species richness and an inadequate proportion of native species, which can be harmful to the conservation and restoration of the Atlantic Forest. Dissemination of these results may alert the environmental agencies in order to avoid the approval of ineffective restorations.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Phenological processes are strongly affected by environmental conditions. In this study we investigate the phenological patterns of six tree/shrub species in three Caatinga fragments and analyze the influence of rainfall and air temperature on these processes. Circular statistics was used to analyze the vegetative and reproductive phenophases over 12 months (dry and rainy seasons) in the years 2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019. Spearman’s linear correlation test (r) was applied to verify the influence of meteorological variables of the two years of study on the phenological stages for each species. All species showed a seasonal pattern for vegetative phenophases. Reproductive phenophases were recorded in the two study periods only for one species. There was correlation of the phenophases only with rainfall, but not for all species. The amount of rainfall below the historical average indicates that precipitation is the most limiting factor for flowering in the evaluated species.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This study aimed at evaluating and compare the changes from 2012 to 2016 in the structure and floristic composition of a remnant Araucaria Forest. The entry and mortality rates were 2.2% year-1 and 6.9% year-1, respectively. Among the most represented species, those with the greatest yearly increases in their numbers were Sebastiania brasiliensis, Eugenia uniflora, and Allophylus sp. Average mortality density was 498 ind ha-1, and was particularly high for the following species: Casearia decandra (representing 32.3% of total mortality), Eugenia sp. (27.2%), Cinnamodendron dinisii (24.5%), and Lithraea brasiliensis (25.2%). The pioneer species represented 8.33% of income and 29.17% mortality, and secondary species composed 33.33% and 62.50% of income and mortality, respectively. Climax species accounted for 8.33% of income and did not contribute to mortality. The high tree mortality observed in the present study can be attributed, among others factors, to the effects of natural disturbance that occurred in the period.