47
Crop-livestock
integrationshould
lendsupport to
forestplantations
sand hectares of a new ambitious hydroelectric project, but
was reduced and left aside, resulting into a considerably
smaller number. In parallel, he comments, the drought that
lasted for a longer than expected period
affected the planted forests and sped up
the sales, which reduced prices and dis-
couraged new plantings, and should re-
sult into a lack of the product.
On the other hand, the specialist of the
sector expects improvements for the fu-
ture, with the interference of several ques-
tions now under analysis. In view of the smaller availability of
forest products, Moisés analyzes, prices should recover, en-
couraging new plantings. He also spots chances for demand
diversification, in sawmills, furniture and box production, be-
sides the existing expressive consumption, in some cases,
mandatory, in light of agreements signedby relevant consum-
ers (crushing mills, fertilizer producers and meat packing in-
dustries), not tomention the absorptionby the
existing thermoelectric power plants.
Professor Moisés Souza views the increas-
ing implementation of agro-forestry systems
in the productive matrix of the region as a de-
cisive factor for the establishment of euca-
lyptus woodlots. In compliance with envi-
ronmental-oriented recommendations, the
so-called Crop-Livestock-Forest-Integration
(CLFI) has been gaining momentum in West-
ern Bahia, according to the consultant. In his
view, this should represent strong support to
the expansion of eucalyptus woodlots and,
therefore, the area devoted to eucalyptus
should experience a resumption, which in the
past productive periods generated revenue of
R$ 500 million a year, generating significant
income to the regional economy.
