Sustainability of extraction and production of copaiba (Copaifera multijuga Hayne) oleoresin in Manaus, AM, Brazil Raquel da Silva Medeiros a , Gil Vieira b, * a Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazoˆnia, Brazil b INPA-Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazoˆnia, Coordenac ¸a ˜o de Pesquisas em Silvicultura Tropical, P.O. Box 478, Manaus, CEP 69.011-970, Brazil 1. Introduction Copaiba oil extraction from the forest tree is a common activity among indigenous people of the Amazon. Information about the use of copaiba oil by native Amazonians dates from the colonial period of Brazil, when the country was under the control of Portugal. The oil was then used medicinally to treat illnesses (Rodrigues, 1934; Veiga and Pinto, 2002). The use of copaiba remains almost ubiquitous in Amazonian communities and it is one of the most commonly used and well-known medicinal plants in the region. Its medicinal applications include: bactericide, anti- helminth, analgesic, anti-tumor, trypanocide, gastric protector, wound-healer, and anti-inflammatory agent (Cascon and Gilbert, 2000). With the discovery of copaiba oil by the Portuguese, extraction previously limited to domestic use gained new proportions and was introduced to the international market; major buyers included England, France, Germany, and the United States (Veiga and Pinto, 2002). With the expanding use of copaiba oil, which is now used in the pharmaceutical, perfume, and cosmetic industries, its extraction occurred at ever-larger scales. This has generated concern over its sustainability, especially since most oil extraction takes places in a predatory manner and involves either using an axe to cut into the trunk, wasting the oil and injuring the tree, or cutting down the entire tree. The Amazon is the principal source of commercial copaiba oil worldwide (Cascon and Gilbert, 2000). In 2005, Amazonas state was responsible for 95% of the copaiba oleoresin produced in Brazil (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatı ´stica—IBGE). Copaifera multijuga (C. multijuga) occurs in the western part of Para ´ state (Brazil), throughout Amazonas (Brazil), and in northern Mato Grosso (Brazil) (Ducke, 1932). It is most common in terra- firme forest on soils with high clay content, but is also encountered in lower densities on sandy soils (Loureiro and Silva, 1968; Loureiro et al., 1979). Overall, C. muitijuga has a very low density and abundance averages one–two trees per hectare (Alencar et al., 1972; Loureiro et al., 1979). The Brazilian state of Amazonas has adopted policies to encourage the production and commercialization of non-timber forest products (NTFP) as a way to generate income for rural populations in the Amazon. As a part of this effort, the government has created an agency for dealing with forest products (Age ˆncia de Floresta do Amazonas), as well as a cosmetics center (using natural products). Community forest management projects have also been financed, as well as, scientific and technological projects in rural settlement areas. Our study is part of a multidisciplinary community forest management research project called ‘‘Technological Devel- opment and Forestry in the Cristo Rei do Uatuma ˜ Rural Settlement Area, President Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil’’. The principal objec- tive of this project is to develop techniques for the sustainable use of forest products by emphasizing and increasing the value of the forest derived income for local communities. Forest Ecology and Management 256 (2008) 282–288 ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 13 December 2007 Received in revised form 26 March 2008 Accepted 4 April 2008 Keywords: Copaifera Sustainability Oleoresin production ABSTRACT We evaluate the ecological sustainability of extracting the oleoresin of Copaifera multijuga Hayne and some factors influential in its production. We monitored oleoresin production after initial extraction in 43 mother trees in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, near Manaus, Brazil (2857 0 43 00 S, 59855 0 38 00 W). We evaluated production relative to tree diameter (DBH), collection interval, soil clay content, competition intensity, and termite infestation. 57% of productive trees had DBH  41 cm and were responsible for 95% of total production. Although these trees had the highest initial production, after one year only 28% of initial oleoresin production was recuperated, much slower than in trees with DBH < 41 cm. Production was positively correlated with DBH and dominance within mother tree. Oleoresin production varied slightly with season. Trees that never produced oleoresin did not have termite infestations. ß 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 92 3643 1842; fax: +55 92 3543 1836. E-mail addresses: rsmede@yahoo.com.br (R. da Silva Medeiros), gap@inpa.gov.br (G. Vieira). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Forest Ecology and Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco 0378-1127/$ – see front matter ß 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.04.041