Brazil authorizes timber harvest of 70,000 m3 in first five months, expects to exceed 2012 total of 3 million m3; government launches Sisflora 2 digital tracking system to improve monitoring of log movements, meet international demand for sourcing data

Wendy Lisney

YOKOHAMA, Japan , May 31, 2013 (International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)) – Report from Brazil

The State Secretariat for the Environment (SEMA) has introduced a new control mechanism called the “System for Commercialization and Transport of Forest Products”, (SISFLORA 2). The aim is to improve the process of monitoring and control of production and transport of forest products.

The new system provides the means for greater control to combat environmental degradation and is based on information chips attached to the base of trees that will be felled as well as logs that are harvested.

This allows for better digital control of logging activities so that SEMA will be in a position to monitor log movements through designated chip codes.

SISFLORA 2 has been introduced to meet international market requirements for evidence that logs have been legally sourced and to prevent illegally harvested timber entering the supply chain.

The cost of the chip is almost negligible and a good investment considering that it will provide the means to certify the legality of logs and wood products. The major cost centre for enterprises will be management costs from implementation.

In 2012, SEMA authorized harvesting of 3 million cubic metres of wood. Until the end of May this year harvesting of some 6-700,000 cubic metres had been authorized a rate which, if it continues, will result in higher harvests in 2013.

SEMA is discussing the possibility of implementing an improved tracking system in the first half of 2014. This will provide for better traceability of forest products commercialised in the state.

Source:Tropical Timber Market Report, International Tropical Timber Organization.

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