Timber is a natural resource of Brazil, underpinning the nation’s economy. Brazil holds the largest forested area in the Western Hemisphere, representing approximately 12% of the world’s forests and covering nearly 60% of its land surface. The country possesses a growing stock estimated at 120 billion cubic meters, which accounts for almost 22% of the globe’s existing wood resources. This confirms timber as a foundational natural asset that contributes directly to the country’s gross domestic product.
Timber as a Confirmed Natural Resource
The country’s timber supply is drawn from two resource bases: native forests and commercial plantations. Native forests comprise the majority of the total forest area, concentrated in the northern biome, and provide valuable hardwoods. Harvesting in these naturally occurring ecosystems primarily involves selective logging of slow-growing, high-density species prized for furniture and construction.
The second, and increasingly dominant, source is the planted forest sector, which supplies the majority of industrial wood. These cultivated areas occupy less than 2% of the total forest land and are primarily located in the country’s South and Southeast regions. These plantations are dominated by fast-growing species, particularly various clones of eucalyptus and some pine varieties.
While cultivated, these fast-rotation forests are considered a resource base because they provide a renewable, industrial raw material that alleviates pressure on native ecosystems. The economic distinction is clear: native forests yield high-value, slow-growth timber, while plantations produce high-volume, fast-growth wood fiber for industrial processing. In 2023, planted forests were the source for 94% of log wood and 95% of charcoal, demonstrating their importance to domestic industrial supply.
Market Value and Economic Contribution
The forestry sector contributes 1.2% of the national GDP. The value chain extends from raw material extraction to the production of processed goods for both domestic and international markets. The solid wood industry alone reported a gross production value of R$ 26.8 billion in 2022.
Brazil maintains a strong position as a global supplier of wood products, with its exports reaching trading partners worldwide. The country is the world’s second-largest exporter of wood pulp, a product primarily derived from fast-growing eucalyptus plantations. This high-volume production highlights the efficiency of the cultivated forest base in meeting industrial demand for cellulose.
Beyond pulp, the sector generates diverse products, including sawn lumber, wood panels, and flooring. Brazil is recognized as the world’s leading exporter of coniferous plywood and wood frames. Continued growth in foreign sales, such as the 14.7% sector-wide increase in the first half of 2024, positions the industry as a key component of the country’s overall trade balance.
Sustainable Management and Conservation Challenges
Managing this timber resource requires adherence to sustainable forest management (SFM) principles, particularly in native forests. SFM aims to balance extraction with conservation, using techniques like reduced-impact logging (RIL) to minimize ecosystem damage. Legal frameworks specify strict rules, such as maximum harvest intensity, often limiting extraction to 3 to 5 trees per hectare with long cutting cycles of 25 to 35 years.
Sustainable practices are challenged by widespread illegal logging and fraudulent activity. Illegal timber is often “laundered” into the legal supply chain by misusing the Forest Origin Document (DOF), which tracks logged wood. Estimates suggest that timber from major producing states may originate from illegal operations, demonstrating a persistent regulatory gap.
Government efforts attempt to formalize extraction through mechanisms like forest concessions in public lands, known as National Forests (FLONAs). These concessions grant private companies the right to harvest under strict SFM regulations. The goal is to increase the supply of legal wood and reduce the incentive for illicit activities. However, the effectiveness of these measures is constantly tested by economic pressures that drive unauthorized deforestation and resource depletion.