Caesalpinia echinata

ibirapitanga, pau brasil

Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Nergipe)

Habitat

The species occurs in littoral forest and woodland, generally on sandy or sand-clay soils that are well drained, preferring open less dense forest, frequently in dry high, lightnments.

Population Status and Trends

Natural stands have been severely depleted as a result of centuries of exploitation and habitat destruction. The exploitation of the species as a source of wine-red dye dates back to 1501 and has resulted in the country being named after the tree. The manufacture of synthetic dyes in 1875 caused a gradual decline in the exploitation of wild sources and the species became important as a commercial source of wood for the manufacture of bows for musical instruments. It remains the most important wood for making professional bows, but the scale of this industry is little known (Anon, 1997). The remaining stands of the species exist in a few areas on coastal plain, where deforestation rates have been rapid (Varty, 1996). Illegal extraction of C. echinata by farmers and foresters is thought to still occur, although the extent of this activity remains unknown. The species is included on the official list of threatened species in Brazil 1992).

Role of species in its Ecosystem

Trees are frequently covered with orchids and othhytes.

Threats

Commercial exploitation, local use, clear-felling/logging habitat

Utilisation

The dye extracted from the heartwood is what the species is famous for. The heavy timber has considerable value for use in construction work and carpentry and handicraft, but its most commercial application is in the manufacture of bows for musical instruments. The bark is of local importance for its medicinal properties and trees are planted aentals.

Trade

Pau brasil was an important source of fiery red colourant during the middle ages. Enormous quantities of dyewood were exported between 1501 and 1850, causing the loss of large areas of forest and enslavement of Indians. Synthetic dyes began to become important in the mid 1800s and have now almost completely taken over. Exports of brazilwood, including the heartwood of a number of related species from Central and South America to USA. and Western Europe, declined after 1950s. The extent of current trade is not known and it is unlikely that brazilwood will be exploited as a source of dye at anything other than at a small scale (Green, 1995). The wood began to be used for making bows for musical instruments in the last century. The vast majority of professsional bows are now made from the species. There are no reliable figures on the quantity of C. echinata exported for this purpose but one estimate puts the world demand at 200m³. The actual figure is likely to be considerably greater to take account of the large amount of wastage in processing. It is thought that 70-80% of the wood is lost in converting logs into bow blanks and a further 70-80% is then lost in processing bow planks into bows. About 1500kg of wood is cut to provide 100-200kg of suitable wood for bows; a single violin bow demanding 1 kg of wood. A professional bow costs between US$ 2000-5000 1997).

IUCN Conservation category

EN A1acd according to (1996).

Conservation measures

Two protected areas in Bahia and Pernambuco were set up specifically to protect populations of C. echinata. The species is also recorded in other public and private reserves. The species is in cultivation in Bahia, Alagos, Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro and there is also a reintroduction programme at Linares Reserve. IBAMA include the species on the official list of threatened Brazilian plants.

Various federal and state laws exist restricting the export and cutting of C. echinata or its habitat type. However there appear to be considerable loopholes and a lack of specific measures to protect the species 1997).

Forest Management culture

Plants begin to flower around 3-4 years of age. Seeds fail to germinate after storage for 30 days. The development of heartwood in plantation trees is considerably faster than in the wild; the DBH of a 17 year old plantation tree compares with a 70 year old tree in the wild. The quality of wood from plantations is, apparently, not suitable for making bows and consequently there is a lack of interest in growing the species in plantation 1997).

References

Anon. 1997. Conservation and management of pau-brasil, Caesalpinia echinata - An action plan. Fauna and Flora International (UK), Botanical Gardens of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Margaret Mee Foundation (Brazil). (Unpublished report).

Green, C.L. 1995. Natural colourants and dyestuffs. A review of production and development potential. Non-Wood Forest Products 4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United , Rome.

IBAMA. 1992. Lista oficial de espécies da flora Brasileira ameaçadas de extinçao. (unpublished). 4pp. Sociedade Botânica do Brasil. 1992. Centuria plantarum Brasiliensium extintionis minitata. Sociedade Botânica do 175pp.

Lewis, G.P. 1987. Legumes of Bahia. Royal Botanics, Kew.

Varty, Nigel. 1996. Data collection forms for Brazilian Atlantic species.