Above-ground Biomass Recovery in Managed Tropical Forest in the Jari Valley, Eastern Amazon

Tropical forests play an important role in maintaining the regional rainfall regime and global climate, besides representing a significant stock of carbon. This study aimed at evaluate above-ground biomass (AGB) recovery, after reduced-impact logging (RIL) in a managed forest on the Jari River valley. The data were collected in 15 plots (100 m × 100 m) in the management area of the Jari Florestal Company. To estimate AGB we used a local equation adjusted for forests in the eastern Amazon. AGB before logging ranged from 157.9 Mg ha-1 to 619.9 Mg ha-1, with an average of 362.5 Mg ha-1. AGB after logging ranged from 151.2 Mg ha-1 to 632.8 Mg ha-1, with an average of 322.4 Mg ha-1. The time of monitoring of the plots and logging intensity were the main factors that influenced the recovery of the AGB. In 12 years after the RIL, the forest was able to recover its initial stocks of AGB, in places of low exploitation intensity.