Biodiversity of Fabaceae in the Brazilian Amazon and Its Timber Potential for the Future

*Luiz Augusto Gomes de Souza*

### **Abstract**

The vegetation of Neotropical forest of Amazonian region is one representative part of global biodiversity in Fabaceae, with numerous species for wood production, oil, fruits, or other forests products or same ecosystemic services for agricultural production. This chapter gathers information on the biodiversity of Fabaceae of the Amazon, highlighting the timber species in the set of existing plant genetic resources. Systematic information emphasizes the importance of basic forestry information, and potential for cultivation in agroecosystems or for management, forestry and reforestation. The product of the highest economic value of the Fabaceae of the Brazilian Amazon is wood, which is sold in local, regional markets and exported to other countries. Also noteworthy is the ability acquired evolutionarily by many Fabaceae: the symbiotic fixation of N2 with soil bacteria of the Rhizobia group, character particularly important for soil recuperation or reforestation.

**Keywords:** biodiversity, Fabaceae, Amazon, forestry, timber

### **1. Introduction**

The Amazon rainforest is known as one of the hot spots of biodiversity in the world, and has, in its geographical area, numerous zones of detachable biological variety, centers of diversity, with incalculable stock of genetic resources for current and future use. Recent estimates of plant biodiversity in the Amazon indicate that of the 270,000 terrestrial plant species, 32,000 are present in Brazilian biomes (11.8% of global biodiversity) and, of these, ± 14,000 species in the Brazilian Amazon representing 5.2% of global biodiversity [1].

Territorially the continental Amazon occupies 50% of the surface of South America, distributed geographically in nine countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil (**Figure 1**). In Brazil, the ecological domain of the Amazon biome has 3.68 million km2 , which added to the ecotone zones with the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes total 4.24 million km2 , which corresponds to 49% of the Brazilian territory [2].

The need for natural wood managed or reforestation to meet local and global market demand is a consensus among reforestation and, in the future, natural and

**Figure 1.**

*Geographical distribution of the Amazon biome in northern South America. Fonte: https://news.files.bbci.co.uk/ include/vjamericas/304-countries-amazon-rainforest/portuguese/app/embed.*

cultivated forests will have great economic and social importance, in addition to contributing to carbon sequestration and global climate stability. Among the natural riches of the Amazon, its timber potential stands out, which are estimated at tens of millions of m3 , and which can, in unprotected areas, be rationally exploited with sustainable forest management practices.
