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2. Profiles of Tree Species: The Americas 155
Aspidosperma polyneuron
Apocynaceae
amargoroso, ibirá-ró-mí, palo
rosa, peroba rosa Distribution
Argentina (Misiones), Bolivia, Brazil (Bahia, Mato Grosso, Minas
Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo)
Colombia, Paraguay, Peru Habitat
A species of tropical, lowland to submontane moist forest. It
occurs in various forest types in moderately humid areas from low to
medium altitudes. It can be dominant in the understory of Araucaria
forest. Population Status
and Trends Peroba rosa is a popular timber tree
which has suffered intense exploitation and habitat loss over the past few decades.
The Brazilian populations are largely eroded (Americas
Regional Workshop, 1996). Although the species was until recently one of
the dominant components of certain areas in Paraguay, also
occurring in pure stands, exploitable populations are now very hard
to find and commercial sources are almost exclusively confined to Brazil (Atkin,
1998). Populations in Colombia are seriously threatened
(Calderon, 1997), and in Argentina the species is scarce and confined to an area
in the north of Misiones (Chebez, 1994) Role
of species in the Ecosystem Threats
Overexploitation, habitat conversion to pastureland and agriculture
(FAO, 1986). Utilisation
Peroba rosa is used primarily in civil construction for joinery,
veneers and in the construction of ship decks, flooring, furniture and
sleepers. (Flynn, 1994). Trade
Peroba rosa is the most available hardwood in Brazil. (Flynn,
1994). 180m³ of Aspidosperma spp. was exported as
sawnwood from Brazil in 1994 at an average price of
US$420.00/m³ (ITTO, 1995). IUCN
Conservation category EN A1acd+2cd
according to the Americas Regional Workshop for the WCMC/SSC Conservation
and sustainable
management of trees project
(WCMC, 1996).
Conservation Measures Legislation
exists in Colombia to prohibit the export of the species, except in the form of
industrialised goods (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996).
Forest Management and Silviculture
Silvicultural trials have been carried out and in different
sites tree heights at 12-13 years have ranged from 4.7 to 7.8m with DBH
ranging from 5.6 to 9.7 cm. References
Americas Regional Workshop. 1996. Discussions held at CATIE,
Costa Rica, November 1996 at the Second Regional Workshop
of the WCMC/SSC Conservation
and Sustainable
Management of
Trees project. (Unpublished). Atkin,
J.S. 1998. Comments on the tree species in trade in Paraguay. Calderon,
E. (comp.). 1997. Lista de
plantas Colombianas
en peligro.
July 1997 Version. Instituto de Investigacino de Recursos
Biologicas Alexander von Humboldt. (unpublished). 14 pp. Chebez,
Juan Carlos. 1994. Los que
se van.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Albatros. 604pp. FAO Forestry
Department. 1986. Databook
on endangered
tree and
shrub species
and their
provenances. Rome: FAO. 524pp. Flynn,
J.L. 1994. A guide
to the
useful woods
of the
world. King Philip Publishing
Co, Maine, US. 382pp.ITTO. 1995. Elements
for the annual review and assessment of the world tropical timber situation.
Draft Document.
The Nature Conservancy. 1996. Natural
Heritage Central
Database. (Status and distribution data on Latin
American plants, developed in collaboration with Latin
American Conservation Data Centers and Missouri Botanical Garden.). Varty,
N. & D.L. Guadagnin. 1996. Information sources on the biology, conservation
and trade of tree species in Brazil. Unpublished document
prepared for the WCMC/SSC Conservation
and Sustainable
Management of
Trees project.
WCMC. 1996. Report of the Second Regional Workshop, held at
CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 18-20 November 1996. Conservation
and sustainable management of trees project.
(unpublished).