Browsing by Autor "Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero"

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Bolivia’s political transition and COP30
(American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2025) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; Philip M. Fearnside
Carbon Content of Amazonian Commercial Tree Boles: Implications for Forest Management
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine; Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro; Marcelo Vitor Gualberto Santos Chaves; Eronildo Braga Bezerra; Juan Pablo Sandoval Lafuente; Samuel José Silva Soares da Rocha; Maria Teresa Gomes Lopes; Philip M. Fearnside
Reliable values for carbon content in trees are essential for quantifying forest carbon stocks and estimating carbon dioxide emissions. This study analyzed the carbon content in the boles of commercial tree species in the Brazilian state of Acre, in the southwestern Amazon. Composite samples were prepared from wood wedges obtained along each individual’s commercial bole (the trunk from the point of cut to the first significant branch). Fifty-seven trees were analyzed, spanning nine families, seventeen genera, and nineteen species in the Amazon forest. The results revealed a variation in carbon content ranging from 49.08% (±3.36) to 51.81% (±0.6), with an overall mean of 50.48% (±0.42). Handroanthus serratifolius, Astronium lecointei, and Dipteryx odorata exhibited the highest carbon contents. The statistical analysis included the calculation of 95% confidence intervals for each species, indicating the precision of the carbon content estimates. ANOVA analysis showed a large effect (η2 = 0.83), indicating that 83% of carbon variability is due to species differences, highlighting the distinct carbon profiles across species. One species (Ceiba pentandra) showed a significant increase in carbon with height along the bole, while the others showed varying but non-significant trends with height. Mean carbon content differed significantly (Tukey’s post hoc test) among the 19 species studied, with the greatest difference between H. serratifolius and Ceiba pentandra. Although differences between species may seem small, in some cases, they can lead to considerable underestimations or overestimations of carbon stocks and emissions when extrapolated to large areas such as the Amazon. The mean carbon content measured in this study (50.48%) exceeds the 0.47 IPCC default value generally used in national reports to the Climate Convention and in various estimates of deforestation emissions and Amazon carbon stocks. This suggests that both emissions and stocks may have been underestimated.
Diversity and Structure of Climbing Plants in an Urban Forest Fragment
(2024) José Henrique Costa e Penha Júnior; Rosana Barbosa de Castro Lopes; Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; Guido Hernán Vásquez Colomo; Philip M. Fearnside
Climbers are herbaceous or woody plants that germinate in the soil and remain rooted throughout their lives, needing other plants to support their development. The aim of this study was to analyze the edge effect on the climbing plant community in the forest fragment of the Federal University of Amazonas. Fifty plots were set up for sampling. The species were grouped and phytosociological parameters were calculated. A total of 613 individuals were recorded, represented by 13 families found inside and on the edges of the UFAM forest fragment. The family with the highest ecological importance value (IV) was Fabaceae. The genera Bauhinia and Derris had the highest ecological importance values, both at the edge and in the interior of the forest. The scandent climbing mode was the most important and was observed in 56 species. This study confirmed the diversity of climbing plants. Although there were more climbing plants at the edge of the forest than in the interior due to the greater luminosity, the scandent climbing habit was abundant in both environments. Climbing plants are a part of the native vegetation of the forest fragment with their richness and diversity. Among other roles, climbing plants contribute ecologically by providing food and shelter for living organisms.
Diversity of Climbing Plants in an Urban Forest Fragment
(2023) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero
Climbers are herbaceous or woody plants that germinate in the soil and remain rooted throughout their lives, needing other plants to support their development. The aim of this study was to analyze the edge effect on the climbing plant community in the forest fragment of the Federal University of Amazonas. Fifty plots were set up for sampling. The species were grouped and phytosociological parameters were calculated. Six hundred and thirteen (613) individuals were recorded, represented by 13 families found inside and on the edge of the UFAM forest fragment. The family with the highest ecological importance value (VI) was Fabaceae. The genera Bauhinia and Derris had the highest ecological importance value at the edge and in the interior of the forest. The scandent climbing mode was the most important and was observed in 56 species. This study confirmed the diversity of climbing plants, although there were more climbing plants at the edge of the forest than in the interior, due to the greater luminosity, and the scandent climbing habit was abundant in both environments. Climbing plants integrate the native vegetation of the forest fragment with their richness and diversity. They also contribute ecologically by providing food and shelter for living organisms, organic matter, among other components.
EL APROVECHAMIENTO FORESTAL BOLIVIANO: CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LAS NORMATIVAS QUE REGULAN LA GESTIÓN FORESTAL
(2023) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; Guido Hernán Vásquez Colomo; Richard Andres Benitez Romero; Marcos Vichenzo Abasto Antezana; Ariz Humeres Alvez; Carlos Maradey Viera; Rosana Barbosa de Castro Lopes; Philip M. Fearnside
Debido a los problemas de degradación, deforestación, e incendios forestales, y la creciente pérdida de biodiversidad en la región amazónica, surge la necesidad de analizar las políticas públicas adecuadas que reconozcan las funciones y actividades deben cumplir para el aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales y sus límites y capacidades de regeneración del bosque. En ese sentido, el presente documento tiene el objetivo de caracterizar las leyes, normas y todos sus anexos que regulan el aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales en la región Amazónica boliviana. Actualmente existen normativas, que rigen desde 1996, Ley Forestal 1700 con su reglamentación, Resolución Ministerial N°248/98, y leyes que ayudan a normar el manejo de los recursos naturales, como Ley INRA 1715, Ley de Medio Ambiente 1333 y Ley Derechos de la Madre Tierra 071. La Ley Forestal 1700 da los lineamientos base de la gestión forestal del Estado boliviano; por consiguientes es fundamental la protección, conservación del medio ambiente y abastecimiento de materia prima al sistema económico y social. Asimismo, la Ley de Reforma Agraria, busca proteger, y rehabilitar cuencas hidrográficas, detener la erosión de la tierra y la degradación de los bosques. Además, la Ley de Medio Ambiente establece que “Las entidades públicas deben fomentar las actividades de investigación (flora y fauna)” e consecuentemente, los informes deben contener sugerencias, de manejo y gestión de los recursos naturales de forma sostenible, para garantizar una producción permanente, como lo explica la ley INRA 1715 y la Ley Madre Tierra 071. Asimismo, los instrumentos de gestión (Plan General de Manejo Forestal, Plan de Gestión Integral de Bosques y Tierra, Plan de Manejo Integral de Bosques y Plan de Ordenamiento Predial POP), operación (Plan Operativo de Aprovechamiento Forestal y Plan Operativo de Gestión Integral) y seguimiento (Informe Anual del Plan Operativo de Aprovechamiento Forestal e Informe Anual del Plan Operativo de Gestión Integral) son fundamentales para el aprovechamiento y conservación de los bosques. En vista de ello, los instrumentos de gestión forestal son normativas que se aplican en la etapa de aprovechamiento de los recursos forestales y su manutención de los bosques a lo largo del tiempo. Sin embargo, existe una brecha sobre la evaluación post aprovechamiento en la Amazonia boliviana, lo que dificulta a tomar acciones y elaboración de políticas públicas relacionadas a la regeneración de especies y monitoramiento de la vegetación en áreas de manejo forestal. Por lo tanto, es necesario la actualización, inclusión y elaboración de instrumentos legales pos aprovechamiento e de técnicas que regulen y mitiguen los efectos del aprovechamiento forestal en la amazonia boliviana.
Productos Forestales No Maderables y Comunidades Amazónicas: El Rol de la Castaña, Asaí y Majo en Bolivia
(2026) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; Guido Hernán Vásquez Colomo
Este artículo analisa el papel de los Productos Forestales No Maderables (PFNM) en la Amazonía boliviana, con énfasis en la castaña (Bertholletia excelsa), el asaí (Euterpe precatoria) y el majo (Oenocarpus bataua). A través de una revisión narrativa, se examinan las dependencias históricas que han marcado el desarrollo económico de comunidades amazónicas, así como las oportunidades emergentes que configuran el presente y el futuro de la región. El ansalisis muestra que la castaña continúa siendo el principal motor económico de Pando, aportando más del 50% de los ingresos familiares y posicionando a Bolivia como líder mundial en exportación. Sin embargo, esta dependencia genera vulnerabilidad frente a la volatilidad de los mercados internacionales y a los impactos del cambio climático. En contraste, el asaí y el majo emergen como alternativas estratégicas, con creciente demanda en mercados de alimentos funcionales y cosméticos, especialmente cuando se articulan con procesos de transformación local y certificaciones orgánicas que fortalecen el acceso a mercados diferenciados. La discusión plantea que el modelo extractivista vigente debe ser superado mediante una nueva bioeconomía amazónica, sustentada en cinco ejes: transformación local y valor agregado de los PFNM; diversificación productiva mediante sistemas agroforestales sostenibles; fortalecimiento de la gobernanza comunitaria y la equidad social; innovación y articulación regional; y políticas públicas inclusivas con financiamiento verde. Estos ejes, integrados de manera coherente, pueden convertir a Pando en un laboratorio de innovación bioeconómica y en un referente internacional de desarrollo sostenible. En conclusión, esta revisión narrativa busca aportar al debate sobre el futuro de la Amazonía boliviana, ofreciendo una mirada crítica sobre las dependencias históricas y las oportunidades emergentes. Reconocer que los bosques son espacios de vida, cultura y conocimiento, y que los PFNM deben ser gestionados como activos estratégicos, es el camino para transformar la riqueza biológica de Pando en un motor de desarrollo inclusivo, resiliente y justo.
Volume, Biomass, and Carbon Estimates for Commercial Tree Species in a Managed Forest: A Case Study in the Bolivian Amazon
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2024) Flora Magdaline Benítez Romero; José Ambrósio Ferreira Neto; Zenóbio Abel Gouvêa Perelli da Gama e Silva; Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine; Santiago Ivan Sagredo Velasquez; Richard Andres Benitez Romero; Sabina Cerruto Ribeiro; Guilherme Silvério Aquino de Souza; Crismeire Isbaex; Rosana Barbosa de Castro Lopes
Tropical forest management has a potential role in forest conservation if it is sustainable. This study of a forest under management in Bolivian Amazonia strongly suggests that the management project is not sustainable and that no potential changes in management would be likely to make it so. In a 216.41 ha harvested area, 278 commercial trees from 10 families, 15 genera, and 15 species were measured. The density of commercial species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm was 1.28 trees ha−1, and the harvestable commercial volume was 12.40 m3 ha−1. Due to market restrictions, the actual amounts harvested were much lower: 96 trees were harvested with commercial boles totaling 2.7 m3 ha−1. Of the total impact on biomass and carbon (above- and belowground), the logs removed from the area represented only 13.4%, while 86.6% was from losses in the forest as follows: 14.5% from the stumps, crowns, and roots of harvested trees (DBH ≥ 50 cm) plus 72.1% from the trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) in the forest lost to roads, log landings, and skid tracks and the gap openings caused by felling the harvested trees. The estimated expenses exceeded the gross revenue of the management company (USD 519.15 ha−1), a fact confirmed by the company’s subsequent bankruptcy. The project’s low harvest intensity reduces the environmental impact per hectare but increases the impact per cubic meter of wood harvested because producing a given volume of wood requires disturbing a larger area and because more kilometers of access roads and skid tracks have to be installed to extract a given volume of wood. Because many costs are fixed regardless of harvest intensity, small harvest volume can render such projects financially unfeasible, increasing the likelihood that they will be abandoned and not provide long-term “sustainable” forest protection. However, this does not mean that higher harvest intensity results in sustainability, as other constraints apply to high-intensity projects. We conclude that conservation alternatives to maintain the forest would be more beneficial than management for timber.