Tree Conservation Information Service
| Cedrela
fissilis
Meliaceae cedro batata, cedro blanco, cedro branco, cedro colorado, cedro diamantina, cedro misionero, cedro rosdao, cedro vermelho, South American cedar, ygary Distribution Argentina (Jujuy, Misiones, Salta, Tucuman), Bolivia, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela Habitat A species of tropical, lowland to submontane forest of various types. The species grows well on well-drained fertile soil (FAO, 1986). In Bolivia the species occurs in dry semideciduous forest (Killeen, 1997). Population Status and Trends At one time an abundant and wide-ranging species. Populations throughout its range have been decimated by overexploitation and also habitat loss (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996). The species is considered threatened in Colombia (Calderon, 1997), and rates of exploitation in Amazonian Peru have resulted in the trees becoming rare (Phillips, 1996). Most natural populations in Ecuador have been destroyed. Some large trees remain in Cuyabeno but they are being felled for export to Colombia (Buitrón et al., 1996). The species has become rare in Bolivia and is now only harvested opportunistically whilst mahogany, Amburana and Machaerium are being sought (Killeen, 1997). It is apparently still abundant in the Región Oriental in Paraguay, especially along the Paraná valley (Ortega Torres et al., 1989). Populations in Argentina are restricted to the north, where they are partly contained within subandean piedmont forest, a habitat which is under severe threat of disappearing (Prado, 1996). In Central America there are very few individuals in Costa Rica, if any at all, and few in Panama (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996; Arce Benavides, 1998). The species is included in lists of threatened plants in Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and also by the FAO (Asociación Nacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, 1990; Buitrón et al., 1996; Calderon, 1997; Chebez, 1994; FAO, 1986) Role of species in the Ecosystem A dominant component of various lowland forest types. Threats Overexploitation, severe genetic erosion and habitat loss. Utilisation At a local level the timber is used for furniture-making, cabinet-making and general carpentry. Trade The timber is considered inferior to C. odorata but is sold with the latter in mixed batches. In 1995 11,064m³ of the timber was exported from the ports of Porto de Paranaguá and Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, at an average price of US$298/m³ (Varty & Guadagnin, 1996). A total of 32,000m³ of Cedrela spp. Sawnwood was reported to be exported from Brazil in 1995. Colombia also reported exports of Cedrela spp. (ITTO, 1997).
Source: IBAMA, 1996 These export figures are questionable, since the species is not believed to be available in such quantities in Brazil. It is more likely that a large part of the consignments originated from Paraguay (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996). A considerable amount of timber is exported from Paraguay (Ortega Torres, 1989). 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). Forest Management and Silviculture In the wild, the species has a low population density (1 tree per ha - 1 tree per 50ha), high genetic diversity and wide gene flow between populations. The University of São Paulo and the National centre of Genetic Resources/EMBRAPA are implementing a research programme to map and monitor genetic variation in populations. Success rates at establishing plantations of C. fissilis have been very low. Mortality rates caused by disease are high (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996). 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). |
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