374
270 U$S/m
3
for C. saltensis in the Yungas.
1
Likewise, for C. fissilis, in the Alto
Paraná Rainforest, average prices of 61 U$S/m
3
have been reported.
2
The wood of
this genus is known as Spanish Cedar in the world market, originally referring to
Cedrela odorata, a species exploited since colonial periods in Central America.
According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the price of
Spanish Cedar wood dried in a kiln and placed in the Port of Callao, Peru, is over
950 U$S/m
3
.
Noteworthy, so far, all Cedrela wood sold in Argentina comes from natural forests. Its domestic market is concentrated in the large urban centers of Buenos Aires,
Córdoba, and Santa Fe, where it is mainly processed into carpentries for the production of furniture and openings. It is also used in uprights, crossbars, wooden or
parquet floors, and the manufacture of various domestic utensils. It is highly appreciated for its excellent aesthetics and workability. It is straight-grained with a
medium texture and a subdued luster. When first cut, the heartwood is pale creamy,
turning to pinkish brown upon exposure to light and air. The density varies according to the species from lightweight (C. balansae 450 kg/m
3
) to moderately heavy
(C. fissilis 550 kg/m
3
) (Tortorelli 2009). It also presents a pleasant perfume and
tolerance to insect attack once cut (Grau et al. 2006), as well as a good durability.
This is endorsed by many still standing colonial churches in Central America and
the Andes, whose doors, ceilings, and indoor decoration are made of Cedrela sp.
wood (Pennington and Muellner 2010).
Due to its history, wood quality and price, together with the reduction of natural
forests resources, the interest in the commercial cultivation of native Cedrela species has increased in Argentina during the last three decades. The experience of
cultivation of C. odorata in block plantations in various tropical regions around the
world, such as Central and South America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, represents an outstanding example to imitate. Cozzo (1995) has reported that C. odorata
plantations in Ecuador, with a density of 1125 trees/ha, reached 18 m in height and
24 cm in DBH on average at 6 years of age, and 25 m in height and 50 cm in DBH
at 18 years, with a yield of 21 m
3
/ha/year.
However, block plantations in the subtropical region exhibit failures due to the
occurrence of frost. In the Yungas, the most sheltered sites of the piedmont region
are used for short-cycle and high-yield agricultural crops and are scarcely available
for forest cultivation. Thus, it would be useful to cultivate these species in natural
forest enrichment systems, especially in forest degraded by overexploitation and
extensive cattle grazing. In such sites, the remaining vegetation provides the seedlings of Cedrela sp. protection against eventual frosts during the first years, allowing their establishment.
Following this reasoning, the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
(INTA) proposed, for both the Yungas and the Alto Paraná Rainforest, the
cultivation of Cedrela native species in enrichment systems in areas of intermediate
1 Personal Communication: National Direction of Industrial Forestry Development
2 Personal Communication: Misiones College of Forest Engineers
J. Grignola et al.
270 U$S/m
3
for C. saltensis in the Yungas.
1
Likewise, for C. fissilis, in the Alto
Paraná Rainforest, average prices of 61 U$S/m
3
have been reported.
2
The wood of
this genus is known as Spanish Cedar in the world market, originally referring to
Cedrela odorata, a species exploited since colonial periods in Central America.
According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the price of
Spanish Cedar wood dried in a kiln and placed in the Port of Callao, Peru, is over
950 U$S/m
3
.
Noteworthy, so far, all Cedrela wood sold in Argentina comes from natural forests. Its domestic market is concentrated in the large urban centers of Buenos Aires,
Córdoba, and Santa Fe, where it is mainly processed into carpentries for the production of furniture and openings. It is also used in uprights, crossbars, wooden or
parquet floors, and the manufacture of various domestic utensils. It is highly appreciated for its excellent aesthetics and workability. It is straight-grained with a
medium texture and a subdued luster. When first cut, the heartwood is pale creamy,
turning to pinkish brown upon exposure to light and air. The density varies according to the species from lightweight (C. balansae 450 kg/m
3
) to moderately heavy
(C. fissilis 550 kg/m
3
) (Tortorelli 2009). It also presents a pleasant perfume and
tolerance to insect attack once cut (Grau et al. 2006), as well as a good durability.
This is endorsed by many still standing colonial churches in Central America and
the Andes, whose doors, ceilings, and indoor decoration are made of Cedrela sp.
wood (Pennington and Muellner 2010).
Due to its history, wood quality and price, together with the reduction of natural
forests resources, the interest in the commercial cultivation of native Cedrela species has increased in Argentina during the last three decades. The experience of
cultivation of C. odorata in block plantations in various tropical regions around the
world, such as Central and South America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, represents an outstanding example to imitate. Cozzo (1995) has reported that C. odorata
plantations in Ecuador, with a density of 1125 trees/ha, reached 18 m in height and
24 cm in DBH on average at 6 years of age, and 25 m in height and 50 cm in DBH
at 18 years, with a yield of 21 m
3
/ha/year.
However, block plantations in the subtropical region exhibit failures due to the
occurrence of frost. In the Yungas, the most sheltered sites of the piedmont region
are used for short-cycle and high-yield agricultural crops and are scarcely available
for forest cultivation. Thus, it would be useful to cultivate these species in natural
forest enrichment systems, especially in forest degraded by overexploitation and
extensive cattle grazing. In such sites, the remaining vegetation provides the seedlings of Cedrela sp. protection against eventual frosts during the first years, allowing their establishment.
Following this reasoning, the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
(INTA) proposed, for both the Yungas and the Alto Paraná Rainforest, the
cultivation of Cedrela native species in enrichment systems in areas of intermediate
1 Personal Communication: National Direction of Industrial Forestry Development
2 Personal Communication: Misiones College of Forest Engineers
J. Grignola et al.