Management of Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol) Kuntze) based on the Liocourt model in a mixed ombrophilous forest in Southern Brazil

Abstract

The sustainable management of mixed ombrophilous forest is an effective way to perpetuate the survival of Brazilian pine and to generate environmental, economic and social benefits. So, this study aimed to describe the dynamics of the diametric distribution to propose a management intervention using the Liocourt model for a natural forest of Araucaria angustifolia within 84 ha of forests located in Lages, SC, Brazil. A total of 25 permanent plots of 400 m were evaluated in two periods (periodic inventory performed in 2012 and 2016). The diameters at the breast height and the total height of all Brazilian pine individuals with diameter from 10 centimeters were measured. For the calculation of the quotient "q" the individuals were divided into diametric classes with intervals of 5 cm. The cutting intensity and the cutting rate for the cutting cycles of 20, 25 and 30 years were also calculated. This Brazilian pine forest presented J-inverted distribution curve and the value for the quotient "q" was 1.32. The cutting rates were 44.89 m. ha -1 , 63.64 m. ha -1 and 86.52 m. ha -1 for the cutting cycles of 20, 25 and 30 years, respectively. In conclusion, this work demonstrated a forest structure that allows the forest management activity and the use of Liocourt method as a tool to elaborate forest management plans and to improve the forest interventions in Brazilian pine forests.