Implantação de florestas energéticas em Alagoas: desafios, implicações socioeconômicas e ambientais

Abstract

The state of Alagoas has, in the sugar-energy industry, the main economic activity and uses the method of burnings for pre-harvest and sugarcane transportation due to the large slope extensions where planting extends and where mechanized harvesting is prevented, because of the slope above 12%, thus, the urgency of adaptation to the new legislation, it is evident the need for a new activity to the areas that will be idle. Based on that, the State Law No. 7,454, published in the official gazette of the state of Alagoas, on March 19th, 2013, foresees the reduction of burnings in sugarcane plantations. The genus Eucalyptus, tree species belonging to the Myrtaceae Family, in endemic regions in Australia, with about 700 species, constitute a potential alternative to the occupation of future unused areas on slopes located in Alagoas, because of their high rates of productivity and energetic characteristics, such as wood density and calorific value. The introduction of eucalyptus planted forests in Alagoas can help answer questions about local and regional development from a broad production operations of goods derived from eucalyptus plantations for various purposes, especially the demand for MDF wood industry, which foresees investments of R$ 72 million for the state of Alagoas and meet the environmental requirements of sustainability set out in state law on reducing the use of fire during cutting and transporting cane sugar. This study aims to analyze the main socio-economic and environmental conditions through the implementation of Eucalyptus energetic forests in Alagoas, in order to present its potential and productivity and estimated costs for the introduction of eucalypts farming.