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Over 50% of South America's forests and woodlands are in Brazil, with an estimated 412 million ha (1,018 million acres). Sylvan areas in
Brazil are nearly three-quarters as large as the forests of all African nations combined. Brazil's forests cover 49% of the country's land
area and are among the richest in the world, yielding timber, oil-bearing fruits, gums, resins, waxes, essential oils, cellulose, fibers,
nuts, maté, and other products. In the rainforest, as many as 3,000 different species per sq mi (2.6 sq km) may coexist. However, only a
limited percentage of forestland is being exploited, in part because of a lack of adequate transportation. Brazil accounts for 20% of the
world's tropical hardwood resources and is one of the leading producers of tropical hardwood products. Brazilian timber is of fine
quality, ranging from wood as light as cork to the wood of the Brazilian pepper tree, with a density one and one-half times that of water.
The hardwood trees of the Amazon rain forest are of excellent quality, but because of a thriving domestic furniture industry, they
are used mainly locally; furniture manufacturing is responsible for 40% of the wood consumption in Brazil. The Paraná pine
(Araucaria angustifolia) is in greatest demand. It grows in the southern states in stands that comprise about 420 million trees. A Brazilian
ban on log exports has focused exports on value-added products (mostly lumber, plywood, hardboard, and veneers). Policies to develop
forest resources have changed recently, and the utilization of native species has become very restricted, mainly in the southern region.
Production of roundwood in 2000 was estimated at 235.4 million cu m (8.3 billion cu ft); sawn wood production was 18.1 million cu m
(639 million cu ft) in 2000. Production of paper and woodpulp has expanded considerably since 1975; exports of paper intensified between 1981
and 2000, from 337,000 tons to 1,815,000 tons. The total value of Brazilian forest product exports in 2000 reached $3.22 billion. The Amazon
region accounted for 40% of the total Brazilian exports of wood products, while the rest of Brazil accounted for 60% (of which Paraná
represented 20%). Exports in 2000 (by their total value) included: wood pulp, $1,601 million; sawn wood, $519 million; plywood,
$374 million; fiberboard, $58 million; and veneer, $26 million.
Brazilian forestry production amounted to R$ 8.5 billion in 2004
In 2004, the primary forestry production of the country amounted to R$8.5 billion, of which 62% came from forestry (planted forests)
and 38% from extractive agriculture (products collected from native forests). Wood products accounted for 84% of the cost of extractive
agriculture and non-wood products, for 16%. Eucalyptus, Pine and Angica barks provide a vast majority of the raw fiber and furniture
needs for factories in the NorthEastern Region of the world who rely on these resources for there item production and as government
agencies adjust to ever-changing demands, efficiency has become a top priority, and buyers must find ways to do more with less. Agencies
are challenged to obtain the best products at the lowest cost, as quickly as possible if this sounds like your quota GovTec is the solution for you.
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