The potential for production of oil resin extracted from Copaifera spp natural populations was studied in two natural populations (municipalities of Tarauacá and Xapuri) in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon, in 2000 and 2001. Three hundred and eighty-eight adult trees were selected within these two populations. DBH, oil production, topographic position, regional common names (based on bark appearance; White, Red, Yellow, Black for Copaifera reticulata, and Mari-Mari for C. paupera) and forest typology were recorded for each individual. Copaiba Mari-Mari had the highest proportion of oil-producing individuals (80%), whereas the other types varied between 22 - 40%. Within the studied population, oil production varied between 0 and 18 liters.tree-1, with Copaiba Mari-Mari having average oil production of 1.33 liters.tree-1, not being significantly different from the other types. After excluding non-productive trees, Black Copaiba had the highest average oil production (2.92 liters.tree-1). Forest type, diameter and topography were not significantly related to oil production.
Copaifera; Southwestern Brazilian Amazon; population structure; oil resin production
