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Lesser used species of Bolivia and their relevance to sustainable forest management

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Bolivia has extensive forest resources and potential to become one of the world’s largest producers of tropical wood. However, this potential is currently constrained due to the depletion of Bolivia’s top commercial timber species (mahogany, Spanish cedar, and South American oak). To insure that Bolivia’s forestry sector contributes to the growth of the national economy and stimulates investments in sustainable forest management, timber harvests need to include currently underutilized species. Augmenting demand for lesser used species (LUS) is necessary to sustain the value of forest resources. Limiting the potential for LUS is a scarcity and inaccessibility of information regarding their wood properties. This paper discusses the relevance of LUS research and wood property information to countries focusing forest sector development on secondary and value-added forest products. We also list potentially valuable, yet under-exploited timber species in Bolivia and species that need further wood property research.

Citation

Barany, Marc; Hammett, A. L.; Araman, Philip A. 2003. Lesser used species of Bolivia and their relevance to sustainable forest management. Forest Products Journal. 53(7/8): 28-33.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6144