Suitable environmental areas for commercial timber in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

In state of Rio de Janeiro, the Southeast Region of Brazil, 97.91% of the reforested areas contain exclusively species of Pinus and Eucalyptus. Due to the growing demand for raw forest materials, and low diversity of planted species, the market needs to explore new ones. Paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke), Brazilian firetree (Schizolobium parahyba), Cedar (Toona ciliate), and Teak (Tectona grandis) are species with high economic value and are already found in small reforestation areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The goal of this study was to find the suitable environmental areas to good productivity each of these four forest species in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Suitable environmental areas were determined by classifying climate maps (water deficit, rainfall, and air temperature) and digital elevation models (DEM) of the State of Rio de Janeiro, based on the climatic and altitude demands of each species. Maps of suitable areas were generated using spatial analysis as raster map algebra and raster map reclassification. The species under study showed great potential for growth throughout the State of Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian firetree (known as Guapuruvu in Brazil) presented the largest environmentally suitable area for planting in the state (47%), especially in regions of low maximum rainfall, associated with high temperatures and low altitudes in Rio de Janeiro (e.g., Baixadas Litorâneas with 36.9% of suitable area). Paricá presented the smallest environmentally suitable area (19%), with suitable areas in regions of altitude less than 700 m (e.g., Médio Paraíba and Serrana, within 27.4% and 20.8% of the suitability area, respectively.). Future studies could refine the suitable areas by examining the soil conditions of each area and researching the economic and social factors that are unique to each region.